The long wait for garden waste bins in South Holland could soon be over.
Some residents have been waiting for more than a year to join the brown bin scheme, but nothing is changing until January next year.
The expansion of the collection scheme had been held off until the new general waste calendar changes were made.
South Holland District Council made a raft of changes to the rubbish and recycling routes in October.
The council has now said the garden waste scheme is expanding in January.
Residents who have contacted the council previously about joining the scheme and registered an interest don’t have to apply again.
The people who have been on the list the longest will given priority, grouped in geographical areas to join pre-existing routes.
“Our garden waste scheme has always been popular with residents across the district, making it more convenient for them to work on their garden and, instead of having to drive to the local household waste recycling centre with the waste, we will pick it up from the door,” said South Holland council member Jack Tyrrell, portfolio holder for environmental services.
“I am really pleased that as a council, we can begin to roll out to more households, and tackle our existing waiting list starting in January next year.
“We will do our best to get as many new people on the scheme as we can, but do bear with us during this time and we will get you when we are able to do so,” he added.
Social media posts from residents highlight the long wait many have had to join the scheme.
One Holbeach resident said she had been on the list for two years before receiving her bin.
And another said she has already been waiting longer than that.
“This is one of the main questions I get asked,” says a post from Sophie Hutchinson, a member of South Holland District Council, on a Facebook post.
“It’s the inconvenience of not having one. I don’t understand why we needed to wait so long when our neighbours had them,” added another resident.
“I applied 18 months ago and haven’t heard anything,” said a Holbeach resident.
The garden waste scheme will cost £52 for a total of 24 collections throughout the year.
Collections are fortnightly with the exception of Christmas and there is a £16 charge to cover delivery, repairs and loan of the bin.
Households can have no more than two of the 240-litre bins.
For more information, see the district council’s website; www.sholland.gov.uk/gardenwaste
