Rother council defends garden waste charge hike

Many people criticised Rother District Council (RDC) for raising the price of the collection from £25 to £35 per year.

But the local authority defended the policy claiming the extra 19p a week helps to cover the cost of the service.

“The RDC garden waste collection became a subscription service in 2014 as part of the new waste contract,” a spokesman said. 
“The increase in the annual charge this year ensures that the cost of the service is fully covered, and those residents not opting into the service are not subsidising the service users through their council tax.

“Despite the increase in the annual charge, residents choosing to have a brown garden waste bin still only pay the equivalent of around £1.34 per collection and are helping to maintain our household recycling rates.

“The new charge is fixed for the duration of this council, so residents will pay £35 every year for at least the next three years.”

One angry resident included Sally Gardner, of Pottery Lane, Brede, who wrote to the Observer complaining about the increase.

She wrote: “I live in Brede, and bearing in mind that our council tax is already ridiculously high, and we have no shops, no pavements, no street lighting, no police that I am aware of and our lane is full of pot holes – what exactly do they spend it on?”

What are your thoughts on the increase? Email [email protected] or call 01424 856785.

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