Sign up for green waste collections from today

From today (Monday February 18) resident of the Horsham district can register to have their garden waste collected for £29 a year, which the council maintains is a great deal for residents, despite criticism.

The neighbouring districts and boroughs, which have charged for this scheme in the eight years Horsham District Council has offered it to residents for free, charge between £40 and £72 a year for garden waste to be collected on the kerbside.

Although people have until June 1 to sign up for a membership sticker to put on their bin, the £29 fee is a flat rate, so whenever you sign up throughout the financial year, the fee remains the same.

Residents who have not signed up and displayed their membership sticker on their bin by June 1 will not have their bin emptied after that date.

If you have a large garden and would like a second bin, they are available at a cost of £43.40 each with the additional cost of emptying each additional bin fixed at £15 for the year ending in March 2014.

People can sign up to pay in different ways. The cheapest and most efficient way is by direct debit by post, in person or online at www.horsham.gov.uk/gwsignup

The fee will be taken out each year and the council will let residents know if there are any changes. People can also pay a one-off fee of £29 by debit or credit card either online, over the phone by calling 01403 739459 or in person at the council’s offices. A surcharge will apply for credit card payments.

People can also sign up by downloading a copy of the application form on the same website and returning it by post at Horsham District Council, Operational Services, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL, however the council cannot accept cheques or cash as a form of payment.

The application forms can also be cut out of the Horsham District News magazine being distributed by the council to households this week.

For more information go to www.horsham.gov.uk/gwsignup or call 01403 739459.

Read the County Times on Thursday to read the full interview and debate over the green waste collection scheme.