Calls for year-round garden waste collection across the country

Local authorities across the UK are being urged to step-up their garden waste collection service this autumn.

Experts from Arbtech are calling for more consistency across council areas when it comes to taking away fallen leaves and other garden waste throughout the year.

They have suggested a national opt-in service for homeowners to request year-round garden waste removal, as this could create safer and more environmentally-friendly waste removal options for householders.

The cost of a garden bin collection varies across the UK, with some councils offering it for free and others charging between £30 to £50 per financial year, depending on the authority.

Some local authorities already provide year round provision for garden waste, while others call a halt to garden collection in the late autumn – despite trees continuing to shed leaves during this time and so garden waste starts to pile up for many.

Research shows that although residents in Leeds receive free garden waste removals from March through to December, those in Liverpool pay £50 per year for their garden waste to be collected from February to November.

Inequalities across the country mean some residents are left with no garden waste removal through the autumn months, when trees shed their leaves and create lots of waste in gardens.

Now, the arboricultural specialists are calling for uniformity across the country on how often garden waste bins are collected, how much they cost residents and the times of year garden waste is removed.

They claim a national opt-in scheme would improve public safety by reducing the number of garden bonfires – which some residents resort to in order to get rid of fallen leaves.

Although burning garden waste is not illegal and there are no ‘set times’ that it’s allowed, it can cause issues including smoke reducing visibility for drivers on nearby roads.

Households could also be committing an offence if it causes a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act.

Garden waste contains moisture, especially during the colder months. Creating bonfires as a means to remove garden waste could create a real health and safety hazard for homeowners and their neighbours, as it contains harmful pollutants and gases.

The smoke and smell from garden bonfires are the subject of complaints for many local council authorities.

Neighbour complaints about burning garden waste could be classed by local councils as a statutory nuisance – which could land homeowners with a lump sum fine, the amount would be set by the court.

As an alternative to additional garden bin removal, the team of experts suggest offering compost bins for homes across the country. They say this could be another way to help Brits make environmentally friendly choices.

Andrew Ward from Arbtech said: “As we move into the autumn months, many homeowners across the UK will soon receive their final garden waste bin collection for the year.

“Inequalities across the country mean some are left with no garden waste removal from November to April, in the following spring.

“But fallen leaves, tree branches, hedge trimmings and clippings can easily accumulate during the autumn and winter, leaving many households with little options for ridding themselves of the waste.

“Some may choose to burn unwanted garden waste, but this could create a hazard for neighbours and drivers on nearby roads. Burning wet or damp garden waste can be a health hazard, as it produces harmful pollutants.

“Piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by animals such as hedgehogs, so we would always urge families to look out for hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets before lighting a fire.

“Offering continuous garden waste collection is an effective solution to helping homeowners stay on top of their waste all year round.

“We suggest an opt-in service for those who would like to continue having their garden waste removed year-round or through the autumn months.

“Alternatively, offering compost bins as part of the cost for garden waste bin removal could be an effective step in helping Britons make more environmentally friendly choices.

“This is a simple way for councils to make a difference to their residents, reduce pollution through bonfires, and help create more environmentally friendly options for households.”