Charge for green waste collections agreed

More than 18,000 people responded to a consultation on recycling and green waste

Households will have to pay £56 a year if they want Shropshire Council to continue to collect their green waste.

The authority said it could no longer afford to provide the service for free as it attempts to save £62.5m from its budget this financial year.

It said the charge was in line with the amount charged by neighbouring authorities.

The council has decided not to go ahead with proposals to shut two of its household recycling centres, but they will all close one day a week.

The change was approved by the council’s cabinet on Wednesday and the new garden waste charges will come into force from 1 October.

People who pay to use the service after that date will receive a sticker to place on their bin.

More than 18,000 people gave their views to the council about the changes, which was the biggest response it had ever received to a consultation.

Ian Nellins, the councillor responsible for waste management, said: "It was particularly clear that people want to see all five of our recycling centres remain open."

He said the day they would close was likely to be either a Wednesday or Thursday - the two quietest days.

The council will also introduce a booking system for the recycling centres.

It said it would suspend food waste collections too, but as all councils in England have been told they must introduce them from 2026, it will be reintroduced at a later date.