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Purple bins: Thousands sign up for new garden waste scheme in Wolverhampton

Thousands of people in Wolverhampton have signed up to a new, cost-cutting 'purple bin' scheme - after the council had to scrap free garden waste collection.

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Soon new purple bins will be appearing outside homes in Wolverhampton

Since environmental bosses announced the introduction of the city council’s new garden waste collection service - with new purple bins - figures show that 7,147 households have signed up so far.

The new scheme, which has been established as a cost-cutting measure, is set to start on either February 18 or 25 – depending on which week a resident's recycling collection falls on.

The garden waste bins will be collected on the same day as recycling bins.

Costings for the service will be £35 a year per household, with concessions at £17.50 for those who qualify.

It comes after the old free garden waste service was scrapped in a bid to save the local authority some money. A fortnightly bin service for general waste was also introduced at the end of last year, in a bid to further cut costs.

The council’s cabinet member for city environment, Councillor Steve Evans said: “Numbers for those signing up for the purple bin scheme are still rising.

“Unfortunately, residents who want to sign up for this service won’t be able to pay by Bankers Automated Clearing Services (BACS), cheques or cash. The council requests payment by debit or credit card, which can be done via the council’s website.

“Like many other councils facing severe budget cuts, unfortunately we’ve had to end our free garden waste collection, which is why the new ‘purple bin’ service has been introduced.

“Each household can order up to ten garden waste bins, but if eligible for discounts, this will only be at a reduced fee for the first garden waste bin.”

Councillor Evans added that he was very pleased with the number of households that had signed up so far and said the 240-litre purple bins had already been delivered to those residents who had applied for them.

However, some residents have said they are still waiting for their purple bin despite ordering one.

Patricia Vickers said: "We've had ours but my neighbour is still waiting. Why didn't the council deliver them all together? Terrible admin skills, and extra petrol/diesel. The way this council waste money is appalling."

But Jan Branson said: "Most people have to pay for a garden bin. In some councils it is over £100 per year. Count us lucky."

By Joe Sweeney, Local Democracy Reporter