INVERCLYDE residents could face charges for the uplift of their garden waste from next March.

It was previously agreed at the annual budget meeting that the council would introduce a charge for the collection of garden waste from March 2020.

The local authority will follow in the footsteps of Perth and Kinross, Edinburgh City, Midlothian and Falkirk.

Inverclyde currently provides garden waste collections to around 22,000 properties. The charge will be set at £30 per bin and will achieve a net income of £289,000 per annum.

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In a report Martin McNab, Head of Environmental and Public Protection, states: “Inverclyde Council currently provides a garden waste recycling service to approximately 22,000 properties within Inverclyde.

“This service allows householders to recycle grass cuttings, weeds, shrub cuttings, hedge trimmings, flowers, plants, leaves and twigs via a kerbside collection using a brown wheelie bin. The service is provided between March and November.

“The total tonnage of garden waste collected in Inverclyde in 2018/19 was 3,800. This contributes 11 per cent to our annual recycling performance.”

Inverclyde will use a model similar to Perth and Kinross council, who also charge £30 per bin, as it appears to be the most beneficial.

It is anticipated that 56 per cent of Inverclyde residents will use the service which would mean 12,300 households out of 22,000 would be willing to pay they fare.

It is also hoped these measures will help improve Inverclyde’s recycling performance.

Inverclyde’s environment and regeneration committee is expected to approve the recommendations and implement the garden waste charges.

A decision will take place on Thursday, August 29.