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£40 - CONTROVERSIAL charges for garden waste collection in East Renfrewshire were introduced today 5 July 2021
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TOPIC: £40 - CONTROVERSIAL charges for garden waste collection in East Renfrewshire were introduced today 5 July 2021

Re: £40 - CONTROVERSIAL charges for garden waste collection in East Renfrewshire were introduced today 5 July 2021 2 years, 5 months ago #7

  • RM64
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29 October 2021
Information regarding Brown Bin Garden Waste Collection Scheme shortfall of £130K

The introduction of the garden waste scheme has resulted in 21,650 residents signing up for the first year slightly short of our target of 25000 but still bringing in £870,000 of income.

Although there has been a shortfall the department is looking at other areas where the service has created a budget benefit including a reduction in garden waste going for treatment, these figure are not yet available but will go some way to meet the shortfall.

The department will maintain the posts and vehicle created to allow continuation of this service next year.

Any future change in charging for the service will depend on future budget pressures and will require approval from the appropriate committee.

Environment Department
Phone Number 07867 441461
Address: Spiersbridge Offices, Spiersbridge Business Park, Thornliebank, G46 8NG

Re: £40 - CONTROVERSIAL charges for garden waste collection in East Renfrewshire were introduced today 5 July 2021 2 years, 3 months ago #8

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16/12/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News

36 mins ago

East Renfrewshire: Christmas tree uplift rule change anger

By Gillian McPherson Reporter

A CHANGE to East Renfrewshire Council’s Christmas tree collection service has sparked outrage among some residents.

Last week, the local authority announced the amendment as part of its new garden waste permit scheme, which was introduced earlier this year.

Unlike previously, no trees will be uplifted from the pavement, prompting concerns about residents who may not have the tools for the job, or the strength to dispose of them adequately.

Instead, people who have forked out for the annual £40 charge to have their brown bin emptied will be able to have their tree collected for free.

They must, however, break down the item first and dispose of it in their brown bins with the lid fully closed or they will not be taken away.

Those who don’t have a permit and wish to pay to have their tree collected must also do the same after paying £15 for a one-off uplift.

Alternatively, the council will be offering a free chipping service at Cowan Park, in Barrhead, and Rouken Glen, in Giffnock, with dates and locations to be announced.

Residents can also take their tree to either of the local authority’s recycling centres free of charge.

Netherlee resident Nichola Braddick, who is originally from Barrhead, said: “Why on earth can’t it be lifted from the pavement like previous years? The elderly or anyone with arthritis will struggle.

“They say you can put them in the car to take them up to the chipping centres but not everyone has a car or would be able to get an unwrapped tree into it.

“I think it’ll lead to a lot of people burning them too, when councils are supposed to be encouraging recycling.”

Iain Williamson added: “What is the reasoning behind needing trees to be broken down. Is this to further discourage people from using the service we now have to pay for?

“You should have advised of this before we purchased the garden waste permit.

“If not then this should have been made clear before people bought Christmas trees.”

A number of residents also criticised the fee’s introduction, insisting the collection of garden waste should be included in their council tax bills.

The payment covers collections every week, except a fortnight over the festive period.

Plans for the new charge were included in this year’s budget, which was approved in March and rolled out in July.

Barrhead councillor Paul Aitken said: “Don’t the council realise that elderly or sick residents may not have the equipment or health to start chopping up trees?

“Having taken residents’ money, they should certainly be collecting the Christmas trees intact.”

Last week, the council reminded residents of this and said that brown bin collections will be suspended from Monday, December 27 until Monday, January 10.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokeswoman said: “We have introduced this change to Christmas tree collections to prevent damage to our vehicles.

“When trees are compacted in the lorries, a larger tree can cause damage, so by asking residents to break down their trees this potential issue is avoided.

“There is also a risk posed to staff when they are lifting any larger trees into the lorry.

“We put in place changes to our kerbside bin collections every festive period to allow for the public holidays and staff annual leave.

“The two week suspension of brown bin collections will be the only change to collections during the festive fortnight and it was communicated to residents when the garden waste permit scheme launched earlier this year.”

The £15 one off payment to have trees collected will only be available until Friday, January 14 and can be paid for online from December 29.
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