RECYCLING
A growing
service
Thousands of budding
gardeners across the
borough are reaping the
benefits of the council’s
garden waste collections.
As Verity Adams reports,
it offers homegrown
horticulturalists a handy
way of shedding unwanted
trimmings, cuttings and weeds.
A
nd you can even split the cost
of the fortnightly service by
teaming up with a neighbour
and sharing a green waste
bin for a year-long joint subscription.
As well as being convenient, it is
good for the environment too. The
waste is collected from outside your
home and taken away to be recycled
and converted into high quality
compost, rather than ending up in
landfill and damaging the environment
by causing harmful greenhouse gases.
Signing up for the collections is easy.
Alternatively, you can take garden waste
to re-use and recycling centres or even
have a go at composting at home.
MORE COLLECTED THAN
EVER BEFORE
Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet
member for environment and
highways, said: “This is
proving to be a popular and
environmentally-friendly service.
We have more than 14,000 current
subscribers and we are collecting more
garden waste than ever before – in
2019 we had collected 10% more by
Christmas than in the same period
the year before, which represents
133 tonnes extra, or the equivalent of
11 double‑decker buses.”
SIGNING UP
Annual subscriptions of £79 run from
1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021.
There are concessionary rates of £60.50
available for those aged over 65 and
those on means-tested benefits.
Subscribers can choose between
using green bags or a green wheelie
bin, depending on how big your
garden is and how much waste you
produce. You can pay either up-front or
spread the cost by direct debit.
Current subscribers will be sent
renewal notices advising on how to
make payments via post and email,
and should renew before 1 April to
avoid disruption to their collections.
Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/
gardenwaste to find out more
and sign up to the service. The council
does not accept garden waste in the
normal household refuse collection.
around ealing February/March 2020
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