People in Greater Manchester area set to be charged for garden waste collections from June 1

People living in the area need to subscribe by May 16

Charges for the collection of residents’ garden waste across Trafford kick in from June 1.

Households will pay £45 for a year if paying online, or £50 by phone, for the waste to be collected on a weekly basis.

There will be no charge for the collection of other refuse, including food waste.

Grey bins in Trafford are now being tagged to make sure residents are aware of changes to their garden waste collection. The tags were being put on the bins from yesterday (Monday April 21) over a four-week period.

Residents have until May 16 to pay for the garden waste subscription if they want their permit in time for June 1. They can still pay afterwards but the collection will only take place after the permit has been displayed on the bin.

After June 1, only green bins with a valid permit on them will have garden waste collected.

Anyone who wants to pay the reduced online charge can visit their local library if they struggle to get online. Library computers are free to use, have online access and library assistants are able to help with the application form.

Coun Stephen Adshead, Trafford council’s executive member for highways, environmental and Traded Services, said: “We’ve already had thousands of applications from Trafford households but we want to make sure all our residents are aware of the changes.

“We put a notice in with our Council Tax letter, we’ve highlighted it on social media and the tags on the grey bins are an extra way of letting people know about the changes.”

Town bosses say the garden waste charge brings the authority into line with other councils and was part of its budget plans to maintain essential services for vulnerable adults, children and families.