A GARDEN waste bin collection service could finally be up and running by next spring in Dumfries and Galloway.
However, householders could be charged £40 annually if they want to be involved – because a free service would cost Dumfries and Galloway Council a hefty £1.7m per year to run.
Meanwhile, those who receive a council tax reduction will only have to pay £20 if they want their garden waste collected.
This new opt-in service has been in the works for over three years following a public consultation, but if a bid for funding is successful it is likely to be rolled out nine months from now.
A report, due to be tabled at the communities committee next week, reads: “A bid has been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund on May 10, 2024 for 100 percent capital funding totalling £2.33m to cover the purchase of six refuse collection vehicles, 32,000 bins, and improvements to two waste transfer stations.
“Each annual subscription would receive a single 240 litre capacity wheeled bin which would be emptied fortnightly between March and November. Households can subscribe for more than one bin if required.”
Next Tuesday councillors will be asked to agree to the £40 annual uplifting charge.
Council chiefs will then be waiting for the green light from the Scottish Government for the funding.
Twenty-six of the 32 councils in Scotland already run a garden waste collection service. Of those, 21 charge an annual fee, which works out at an average of £44.76.
In a survey of residents locally, 92 percent of people said they would like the service. When asked if they thought it was reasonable for the council to charge for this service, only nine percent responded yes, while 49 percent stated “prefer free, but maybe pay”.
