New Forest District Council (NFDC) will be starting the 2022/23 subscription year for existing customers of their garden waste collection service on Monday 4 April 2022.
Subscribers to the service received a reduced number of collections for the 2021/22 subscription year, due to ongoing staff shortages. In light of this, all current garden waste customers will be given a discount on the new renewal price for the 2022/23 subscription.
Cllr Steve Davies, NFDC portfolio holder for Environment and Coastal Services, said, “We would like to thank our garden waste customers for their support and patience, and apologise for any inconvenience service disruptions have caused. We’re pleased to be starting the 2022/23 subscription year in April and will be providing customers who renew their subscription with a discount.”
As communicated in December 2021, four-weekly collections will continue from Monday 10 January. The delayed return to fortnightly garden waste collections is in line with the council’s contingency plan, approved in November 2021. The contingency plan was created to ensure the collection of clear and black sacks from households can be carried out during periods of staff shortages.
NFDC are aiming to restart fortnightly garden waste collections mid-March 2022, but this will be dependent on staffing levels improving.
The council will be writing to existing customers in February, updating on the frequency of garden waste collections, how subscriptions can be renewed, and how discounts for the 2022/23 subscription year will be provided. There will also be information for customers wishing to not renew their subscription, who will be eligible for a refund.
Garden waste customers can find their collection dates for January and February by visiting newforest.gov.uk/gardenwaste
The council is unlikely to be able to accept new garden waste customers or sell additional bags until July 2022.