Anyone wishing to have their brown-topped ‘green’ waste bin emptied in the Horsham district will have to pay an annual charge of £29 from April or May 2013 under plans agreed by the council last month.
Horsham District Council approved the charge at a full council meeting almost unanimously, with one vote against and one abstention.
Andrew Baldwin (Con, Holbrook East), cabinet member for the environment, said that an annual £29 fee for those that use the scheme was the fairest way to charge.
He explained: “The important thing to remember is residents have a choice. Residents who have a small garden they do not have to opt in. They can compost their waste at home our take it to the nearest recycling centre in Hop Oast.”
However Malcolm Curnock (LDem,Broadbridge Heath) thought that charges were neither fair nor proportionate.
He said: “They are a substitute for council tax. It’s back door taxation.”
Some comments on West Sussex County Times’ Facebook page suggested that residents might put their green waste in their normal waste bins.
However Mr Baldwin said that this behaviour was unacceptable, and those putting green waste in their household waste bins would be contacted by the council.
Frances Haigh (LDem, Horsham Park) thought it was a shame that charges were not introduced when the Acorn scheme started in 2004, as she said it could have raised £3.6m, which could have been used for community projects.
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