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Council garden waste service welcomes new customers

Released on April 23, 2020

There’s good news for people in southern Oxfordshire looking for ways to dispose safely of their garden waste. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have reopened their paid-for garden waste service to new customers.

The service has continued throughout the lockdown for existing subscribers and for a short period of time the council and waste contractor, Biffa suspended taking on new customers to prioritise the kerbside household collections while members of the waste collection crews were off sick or self-isolating.

Biffa has now built up sufficient resilience in its workforce to enable new customers to join*.

South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for housing and the environment, Cllr David Rouane said: “Our priority has been to maintain essential services throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead. It was essential we ensured we could cope with the service to existing customers before taking on new ones.”

Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for housing and the environment, Cllr Jenny Hannaby said: “We have listened to people who have been in touch recently who wished to take up the service. We realise that not everyone can compost at home, which is why we are pleased to be able to offer the service to new customers.”

  • The service will also take extra garden waste (equivalent of another brown bin eg three bin bags) on the following collection week – 18-22 May

* The situation is being regularly monitored and residents should be aware that if staffing levels fall taking on new customers may need to be suspended again.

Notes to editors

The service costs £49 per year and is an annual subscription paid by direct debit. As the council offices are currently closed to the public, at this time we can only take subscriptions online.

For more details see our garden waste page

Tips to reduce garden waste

  • Grasscycling:  This is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing.  Grass clippings contain moisture, valuable nutrients, and decompose quickly. Grasscycling saves time and money and helps the environment. Mowing time is reduced since bagging and disposal of clippings is eliminated. Grass clippings add valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil and produce healthy, green lawns.
  • Build a compost heap or buy a compost bin online and compost your garden waste. More information can be found at Recycle Now website or Oxfordshire County Council site