Thousands of budding gardeners across the borough are reaping the benefits of the council’s garden waste collections. It offers homegrown horticulturalists a handy way of shedding unwanted trimmings, cuttings and weeds.

And 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.

The council does not accept garden waste in the normal household refuse collection

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 run from 1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021. There are concessionary rates 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.

Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/gardenwaste to find out more and sign up to the service.

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.