Future of kerbside garden waste collections to be discussed by Executive

15 February 2022

People in North Northamptonshire will be asked their views on the future collection of garden waste from their homes, if a report before the council’s Executive is approved next week.

Following local government reorganisation last year, the new unitary council has inherited different approaches to the fortnightly kerbside garden waste collections from its predecessor authorities.

In Corby and Kettering, the service is provided year-round at no extra charge, whilst in Wellingborough, it operates between March and November with no additional cost for residents. In East Northamptonshire, the year-round scheme has a £55 annual subscription fee.

North Northamptonshire Council now wants to harmonise waste collection across the area, so all residents receive the same service.

If agreed by Executive, a consultation would start in March with the results reported back to a meeting of the Executive in July. The new service would begin by Autumn this year.

Now that we are one council across the North Northants area, we need to ensure there is a consistent service and whether there should be a charge across North Northamptonshire or not, for all our residents and we are now working to make this happen.

It’s important that we ask people for their views on this as it affects the majority of households in our area and certainly everyone who has a garden.”Cllr Graham Lawman, the Council’s Executive member for Highways, Travel and Assets

To implement a harmonised kerbside garden waste service, the Executive has several key options and considerations which will need to be explored as part of the consultation exercise:

• To determine which months of the year a kerbside collection service would operate.
• To establish whether a universal garden waste service would be provided to all residents without an additional charge.
• To establish whether a subscription-based garden waste service would be provided to residents who wish to subscribe to the service and pay a subscription charge.
• And, if a subscription charge was to be levied, the level of this charge.

Subject to Executive approval, more details of how people can take part in the consultation will be made available soon.