North Herts District Council’s decision to introduce a £40 annual charge for garden waste collection has not been matched by East Herts Council – partners in the joint waste disposal contract set to start in May.
East Herts Council members last night voted against introducing the proposed annual fee, meaning North Herts residents are now set to pay the additional charge for their brown bins to be emptied without their East Herts counterparts doing so.
Mark Russell, of Hitchin, told this paper he found this new situation profoundly unfair.
“To me it means that North Herts residents will effectively be paying for East Herts residents to have their brown bins emptied for free,” he said.
“I’m all for fairness and this is not fair.”
North Herts District Council carried out a public consultation at a cost of £5,031 in which 85 per cent of respondents objected to such charges, but its cabinet voted on Monday night to introduce them.
Both councils have voted to introduce a weekly food waste collection service.
A spokeswoman for North Herts District Council said the East Herts decision would not stop the authorities entering the joint contract.
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