More than 700 extra households are set to benefit from an extension to the free garden waste collection service in North Tyneside.
Earlier in the year, North Tyneside Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE asked officers, the deputy mayor and relevant cabinet members to explore if the popular scheme could be extended.
And now, the service will be offered to those living in new estates which have been built in recent years and weren’t previously part of the scheme.
It will be available for those with medium or large gardens and at no extra cost to residents.
The service includes a garden waste bin and 18 fortnightly collections per year, running from March until the end of November.
Speaking about the extension, Mayor Redfearn said: “The garden waste service is extremely valued by those who are able to take advantage of it and I’ve had many people contact me to ask that it is extended to where they live.
“I pride myself on being a listening mayor and this is a council that works better for its communities, by responding to any requests or concerns and changing how we work for the benefit of the borough.
“I am delighted we have been able to extend the scheme within our existing budgets and I must thank the officers, the deputy mayor and cabinet members involved for making it happen.”
A brown garden waste bin will be delivered to the homes in February next year, ready for the start of the new collection season in March. A calendar detailing the collection dates will also be delivered to properties around the same time.
A total of 72,700 households in North Tyneside will now receive the service from March.
The garden waste from the collection service is taken to a composting facility and recycled as a soil improver.
Letters have been sent to eligible households.
Click here for more information about the service: Garden waste.
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