Green collections back soon.

Residents of Bath and North East Somerset are being reminded that green waste collections resume on Monday 28 January.

The fortnightly collections were suspended at the beginning of December as very little garden waste material is collected over the winter months.

However, Bath & North East Somerset Council has been able to restart collections earlier than planned after making savings in waste disposal – the direct result of an increase in the amount of waste local people are recycling.

Approximately 20,000 residents currently use the fortnightly charged-for service. Stopping collections over the winter months enabled the council to freeze the cost of the service this year at £44.

Councillor Bob Goodman, cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said: “A large number of local authorities suspend garden waste collections over the winter period, as it simply doesn’t make sense to have trucks on the roads when there is so little green waste material to collect. However, we know how much this service is valued by those who use it and as the nights draw out and spring approaches the amount of green waste generated by people tidying their gardens begins to grow again. Our green waste trucks will resume collections the last week of January, with resident’s collection days remaining the same as they were before the winter break.”

People who bought real Christmas trees, but have not yet taken them to one of the council’s recycling centres, can put them out for collection between 28 January and 8 February on garden waste collection days, even if they don’t have a green bin. They will be collected free of charge. Please cut them up small enough to fit in the lorry and make sure they are free of decorations.

For more information and to sign up for the council’s green waste collection service visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/gardenwaste