GARDEN waste charges will come into force next year which could cost residents as much as £85, with councillors citing “very stark times when it comes to public finances.”
The new fee, which will implemented by Colchester Council from January, will see residents who opt in for garden waste collections pay £55 per year, on top of £30 for a brown garden waste wheelie bin if they do not have one already.
Collections will continue to take place once a fortnight, with residents able to sign up to the collection service from autumn.
The council has said the charge is being put in place to combat rising costs and reduced government funding for local authorities.
Residents will now have to opt in to the new garden waste collection service, and have the option to share the subscription with a neighbour so they can share the cost.
The council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and waste, Martin Goss, said the decision was taken ‘with huge regret’.
He said: “Unfortunately, we are in very stark times when it comes to public finances in the UK and tough decisions and choices are being made.
"We have long provided this garden waste service for free, and it is with huge regret that we have been forced to charge.”
Mr Goss added the council avoided closing the city’s leisure facilities, which would have saved a similar amount of money.
“Closing our much-loved sport and leisure facilities was an alternative we could not take given the disastrous impact it would have on the physical and mental health of our residents,” he added.
Council leader David King said: “[We] will raise income where needed to ensure, unlike some councils, we can meet our legal duty to balance the books and deliver the changes and the budget agreed with other political parties earlier this year.”
Conservative councillor and shadow cabinet member for street services, Sue Lissimore, criticised the decision by arguing the new wheelie bin system was not suitable for many residents.
She said: “There are still many residents who do not want, or who cannot handle wheelie bins.
"You are forcing this upon them when you have said many times in the past that you will not.
“But that is just turning the maintenance and carrying of the receptacle onto the resident.”
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