Great news, Hertsmere residents! At this week’s Cabinet meeting, members made a crucial decision that will positively impact all of us. The proposal to postpone the introduction of charges for green waste collection has been passed, thanks to the diligent efforts of our council members.

You may be wondering why this decision matters. Well, green waste collection is a service that many other local councils already charge for, but Hertsmere has been able to provide it to residents for free until now. However, with new government regulations mandating the addition of food waste recycling collection to our services, changes were inevitable.

The council administration refused to burden taxpayers by raising council tax beyond the government’s prescribed limit to fund the new compulsory service. Instead, they opted for an innovative solution: transitioning to an opt-in subscription service for green waste. This decision not only ensures the implementation of the new scheme but also demonstrates responsible financial management.

Thanks to the foresight of our administration, we were able to seize a unique opportunity to secure government funding for all setup costs associated with the new food waste recycling service. This funding will cover everything, allowing us to maintain green waste collection services without any additional charges for the upcoming year.

Therefore, we’re delighted to announce that there will be no changes to green waste collection for the year 2024/25. The opt-in subscription fee of £50 will only commence in 2025/26, coinciding with the launch of the new food waste collection service.

This decision reflects our commitment to serving the community while also embracing sustainability initiatives. Thank you for your continued support, and let’s look forward to a greener future together! 🌱♻️

Leader of the council, Cllr Jeremy Newmark explains further in this video.