Solihull Councillors will discuss proposals to charge for garden waste collections in the borough at the council’s Full Cabinet meeting on Thursday 12 December 2024.
Solihull’s garden waste collection service costs in the region of £1.775m per year and provides residents with fortnightly collections throughout the year, apart from a short break over the Christmas period. Cabinet will discuss a proposal to introduce an annual subscription charge of £49 per year, with a £5 reduction to £44 for the first year if residents subscribe early. It’s estimated that the revenue from the subscription would substantially contribute to the cost of the service.
Currently, Solihull is one of only two local authorities in the West Midlands and Warwickshire not to charge for the service. The introduction of subscription charges in July 2025 would bring Solihull in line with most other councils in the West Midlands and Warwickshire, and the majority of councils in the country.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said:
“I recognise in putting forward this proposal that many people will be disappointed. But faced with considerable budgetary pressures, the proposal to introduce a charge for our garden waste collection service as other councils do already, is a fair one.
“If Cabinet approves the proposal, we will introduce the new subscription service next year. Residents will have the option of paying for a fortnightly collection throughout the year, or disposing of their garden waste themselves by taking it to the household waste and recycling centre at Bickenhill or by using a compost bin.”
To view the report, visit – https://democracy.solihull.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=10253&Ver=4