Spring start for garden waste opt-in scheme

From April next year, residents will be asked to separate their food waste from garden waste due to changes in legislation requiring all councils to provide a weekly food waste collection service.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council currently collects food and garden waste together but will need to make operational changes to comply with the new law which will add cost and complexity to the service.

The collection of garden waste is a discretionary service and the Council has agreed to introduce an optional charge for collecting garden waste at the same time as the free weekly food waste collections begin. Over 80% of Councils across the country already charge for this service.

The Council is now asking residents for feedback on how this might work via a short online survey.

Councillor Charlotte Atkins, Cabinet Member for Services, said: "We're working with our partners at Alliance Environmental Services to get ready for the big changes to collections that will start next spring.

"Food waste will be collected every week and we'll be providing households with a caddy to make it easier for everyone to separate any food waste from other organic waste.

"We'll also be asking people who want the Council to continue to collect their garden waste to opt-in to fortnightly collections for a small annual fee. We are the last Council in Staffordshire to do this and similar arrangements are already in place at the majority of councils across the country.

"It's a voluntary scheme and those people who don't have gardens, and those who choose not to join, won't be affected. We're keen to hear from our residents as we shape the service we'll be operating from next year so I'd encourage people to complete the short online survey and share their thoughts."

The scheme will cost £46 - less than the average cost in the West Midlands of over £50.

Residents who choose not to join the subscription service will be able to take their garden waste to the tips in Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek or take advantage of the subsidised home compost bin offer the Council will be providing before the changes are introduced.

The survey closes on Friday 31 October.

Published on 10 October 2025