Fortnightly general waste collections for Horsham district would have some support

An increase to garden waste bin collection charges was approved by Horsham District Council’s cabinet last night (Monday November 23).

A £29 a year fee was introduced in 2013 for every household wanting their brown-topped wheelie bin emptied, and this charge has been frozen for each of the last two years.

But on Monday the cabinet agreed to increase these charges to £35 a year for those paying online or by direct debit, and £37.50 a year for residents paying via the contact centre or by post, starting in April 2016.

The fee for an extra green waste bin collection will rise from £15 to £20 a year.

The move is expected to generate an extra £210,000 for the council in 2016/17.

Roy Cornell (Con, Roffey South), cabinet member for waste, recycling and cleansing, explained that the council had extra salaries and pensions to pay, while refuse vehicles were starting to deteriorate ‘rapidly’.

Philip Circus (Con, Chanctonbury), cabinet member for housing and public protection, said: “We live in difficult times and I do accept we do have to increase the green waste charge.

“However having said that talking to people in West Chiltington I have had a number of people who have said to me they would like to see us move to fortnightly general waste collections and they will not understand if we do not do that and save the council infinitely more money than we are going to gain from putting up the garden waste charge.”

While garden waste and recycling bins are both collected fortnightly, general waste bins are currently emptied each week.

Brian Donnelly (Con, Pulborough and Coldwaltham), cabinet member for finance and assets, explained that weekly collections were subsidised by the Government up to 2017.

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