A controversial charge for garden waste collections brought in across Liverpool has started up again for a second year.
As part of its budget proposals last year, Liverpool Council began charging residents £40 a year for green waste to be collected from their homes. The scheme was introduced as the council seeks to address its financial realities and hoped to generate around £1.7m from the fees raised.
Having initially said a 33% take up was required for the scheme to break even, 42,000 households signed up for the collections, with the programme going live across the city for a second year today. The impact of the scheme was wide-reaching and even led to a split in the ruling Labour group at the Cunard Building.
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A new political grouping was born - now known as the Liverpool Community Independents - when former Labour members refused to vote for the annual budget which included the new surcharge. A petition was also launched in opposition to the plans with thousands of residents making their feelings known online.
The roll-out of the charge was met with some stumbling blocks with Liverpool Council seeking answers from Royal Mail over stickers designating who had paid for the scheme to be placed on bins not being received on time. Last July, Cllr Abdul Qadir, who was the then cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the council had reached its £1.7m financial target eight months ahead of schedule.
Taking to Twitter to confirm this year’s service would begin, Liverpool Council said no new payment was yet required for those seeking to opt in, with emails expected to be sent out indicating renewal is due. A white sticker will be issued to households and collections will begin on the next cycle.
The fee for a green bin remains at £40, rising to £150 for five bins. Replacement bins are available for £20 and those in financial difficulty can seek support through the Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme.
Changes are to be made to collections days in Allerton, Hunts Cross and Woolton, with further details available on the Liverpool Council website. St Helens, Wirral and Halton already charge a fee for green waste collections while Knowsley and Sefton still provide the service for free.
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