17 April 2008
Green Garden Waste collections will be offered as an opt-in free service by Eastbourne Borough Council in early 2009. As Eastbourne aspires to meet challenging recycling targets the Council is to invite keen gardeners in the town to take advantage of a free fortnightly collection service for their Green Garden Waste.
Councillor Troy Tester said “Garden waste accounts for around 20% of household waste nationally and can be some of the most harmful in landfill due to the way it decomposes. This means that improving and expanding any facility which can divert this waste to a more sustainable destination has got to be a priority for the Council as it strives to improve recycling in Eastbourne.”
A consultation is planned to take place during the summer months to assess interest in the free service during which all households will be asked if they would wish to receive this service which will provide for a weekday, fortnightly collection service using a 180 litre green garden waste wheeled bin, or 90 litre green garden waste sack.
The changes to the green garden waste scheme are part of the ten year waste strategy and the Councils commitment to double recycling in the town by 2011.
The current opt-in pay Green Garden Waste service has proven popular with over 6,000 users of the service; but by making this a free service it will encourage many more residents to recycle their waste whilst also making the service accessible to a greater number of households.
During 2007/08 the Council collected some 1,900 tonnes of green garden waste that has been composted.
Prior to implementation of the free service in 2009, the Council has reduced the £26.00 service charge for this year to less than £20.00. So residents, who would like to take advantage of this service now, rather than wait until 2009, are asked to contact the Council’s Waste Awareness Team on Eastbourne 415989.
