More people in the borough are recycling their garden waste through Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s collection service, helping to cut carbon.

Over 17,170 green-fingered households are currently signed up to the council’s fortnightly garden waste collection service to recycle their green cuttings and clippings and reduce car journeys to the tip.

Last year more than 5,340 tonnes of garden waste, which includes hedge and grass cuttings, weeds, leaves, plants, cut flowers, twigs and branches up to 10cm diameter, was collected from homes across the borough and turned into peat-free compost. But with record numbers now signed up to the year-long service and plenty of time left in the growing season, it is hoped even more garden waste will be recycled this year.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing Cllr Laura James said: “Our garden waste collection service offers residents a convenient and more carbon-friendly way to recycle green waste from their gardens if they normally take it to the tip.

“The service provides those people who regularly tend to their gardens with the opportunity to pay for the council to collect their garden waste every fortnight. More people than ever are choosing to recycle their garden waste from home and this is helping to cut carbon and supporting the borough’s climate emergency declaration.”

Cllr James added: “While our garden waste collection service is very popular, we understand this service won’t meet the needs of all of our gardeners and we encourage people to also consider composting at home as an alternative to taking their garden waste to the tip.”

The annual 240-litre bin collection service costs £84.90 and there is an initial one-off charge of £42.40 to purchase a brown wheeled bin. A smaller 140-litre bin is available with a reduced annual service charge of £58.30. Discounts for people claiming housing benefit, council tax support or the housing element of Universal Credit are also available.

Subscribers to the council’s garden waste collection service benefit from:

• a 240-litre or 140-litre brown bin

• year-round fortnightly collections, only stopping for two weeks over Christmas and New Year

• the collection of real Christmas trees after the festive period.

More information about the garden waste collection service is available at  www.basingstoke.gov.uk/GardenWaste 

More information about composting is available at www.recyclenow.com/how-to-recycle/home-composting

Residents living in Hampshire can buy compost bins at www.getcomposting.com or at DIY or gardening stores.