Â鶹ÊÓƵ

As garden waste collections stop for the winter, green-fingered South Tyneside residents can now sign up for next year's service.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's fortnightly Garden Waste Collection Service for 2021 will run from March to November.

Residents are encouraged to renew their subscription - or sign up for the service - by 16 February 2021 to guarantee they receive their garden waste packs, containing their bin stickers, collection dates and terms and conditions, ahead of collections beginning week commencing 22 March 2021.

Those signing up before 16 February will also receive the full 2021 service for a discounted rate of £28. For anyone registering after this date, the cost will return to £32 per green waste bin.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, said: "Our garden waste collection service is an opt-in scheme. It offers residents hassle-free collections while enabling them to do their bit for the environment by recycling a variety of garden materials, such as hedge trimmings, leaves, twigs, cut flowers, house plants and weeds.

"It is important to note that green waste bins can also be shared between neighbours. This can help to reduce the cost to individual households and may be particularly appealing for those who have small gardens. Residents can sign up online. It's quick and easy to do. Those who sign up before 16 February will also get a discounted rate."

While garden waste collections normally run from March to November. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the service operated from May to December instead.

Councillor Gibson added: "This year has certainly been a very busy, and challenging year, for our waste collection teams. We had to halt the start of our green waste collections in the spring to enable the Council to focus its efforts on the coronavirus response and maintain the delivery of critical frontline services.

"We are so incredibly grateful to residents' for their support and patience and thank them for their co-operation during these extremely difficult times. We hope that they will continue to take advantage of the service when it returns in spring 2021."

Residents who do not wish to subscribe to the green waste collection service are reminded that low cost composting bins are available from the Council. For more details about home composting, call 0845 130 6090or visit 

Garden waste can also be safely disposed of at South Tyneside's Recycling Village at Middlefields Industrial Estate in South Shields.

The Council also operates a Bulky Waste Collection service for larger household items and the Garden Clearance Scheme remains available to residents for the removal of items including DIY dismantled sheds and garden furniture. Though fees apply.

For further information about green waste collections, or to renew a subscription for 2021, call Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Customer Contact Centre on (0191) 427 7000 or visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/gardenwaste