With the first snowdrops now in bloom, spring is on its way and there is still time for County Durham residents to sign up for garden waste collections.
Durham County Council’s Garden Waste Collection scheme is due to start next month and those who sign up before Monday 14 February will receive all 17 collections.
The first collection, for those who have already subscribed to the service, will take place the week beginning Tuesday 29 March, followed by fortnightly collections until autumn when the collection season ends.
Residents can still sign up for the service for a fee of £35 after 14 February, with collections starting as soon as possible. They will then receive the remaining collections before the season ends.
To sign up to the service or find out if a property is eligible, call 03000 260000 or visit www.durham.gov.uk/gardenwaste
For residents in the Teesdale area, garden waste collections are carried out by Rotters working in partnership with the local authority. Residents in this area should call 01833 690 022 or visit www.rotters.org.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “The first signs of spring are starting to arrive, and many people will be looking forward to getting back out in their gardens. The Garden Waste Collection Scheme is a convenient way of disposing of garden waste and I’d urge anyone interested to sign up and take advantage of all 17 collection dates this year.”
Residents are reminded that the following items can go in the garden waste bin for composting:
• Grass cuttings
• Shrubs
• Leaves
• Weeds
• Flowers and bedding plants
• Hedge clippings
• Prunings
• Small branches
Those who have already subscribed to the service are also reminded to fix their bin sticker to the garden waste bin as soon as they receive it. Bins should be put out for collection by 7am on the collection day, when the scheme starts. Collection days can be found by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/MyDurham and entering the postcode and property number.