Local Council of Amersham now charging for garden waste disposal

Money-Saving-King

mojito wrote: »

I guess thats the problem (people with your view battleborn) really some people cant see that they are paying twice and providing an appetite for the councils to push. So where would you draw the line - probably if it was 1000 pounds per year then you might disagree , but surely its a principle for those with less disposable income to yourself.

You're assuming you pay for it through council tax as well, but not everyone has a garden or may have a very low maintenance one that produces no waste.

Why should people who don't have a garden pay for this through council tax when they don't have a garden?

I think it's a good idea creating a separate charge for services that are only used by a few. In the long term it may help to reduce annual rises in council tax if non essential services have separate charges for the people who actually use them.

Torry_Quine

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

You're assuming you pay for it through council tax as well, but not everyone has a garden or may have a very low maintenance one that produces no waste.

Why should people who don't have a garden pay for this through council tax when they don't have a garden?

I think it's a good idea creating a separate charge for services that are only used by a few. In the long term it may help to reduce annual rises in council tax if non essential services have separate charges for the people who actually use them.

Where does that idea end though? Only parents paying for schools and people with relatives in care homes paying for social care.

Thankfully my council doesn't charge for garden waste an I wouldn't be happy if they did.

Skint_yet_Again

Our council announced several years ago that it was NEVER agreed they would take "garden waste" with "household" waste and it was NEVER covered by council tax, so they would cease taking "garden waste" in the normal bin collection. They did NOT offer a "green waste" collection service. Instead they gave away compost bins (to the first 1000 callers and encouraged the remaining residents to buy a compost bin at a reduced price)

If you didn't want to compost your own garden waste you could take it the to local "tip" / recycling centre, or you could buy special "green waste" bags at £25 for 20 bags.... which they would then collect with the normal household waste and then went into the incinerator with the rest of the household rubbish !! If they found "green waste" in black bin bags with normal waste they would refuse to take them.

Recently they have changed this policy and no longer sell green bags. Instead you have to pay a 12 month subscription of £40 for a 240 litre wheelie bin for garden "green waste" to be collected and composted. This "annual" subscription is regardless of whether you actually use the service monthly or not.

So if you previously used 20 bags a year for £25 you now have to pay £40 a year, even if you have a very small garden. They do say you can "club together with neighbours" and share the cost/use of the wheelie bin .... ok if you get on with your neighbours and get the money off them/ can agree between you how much of the bin you are each "allowed" to fill.....

Maybe you could buy a compost bin? Saves having to get rid of most green garden stuff

Money-Saving-King

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

You're assuming you pay for it through council tax as well, but not everyone has a garden or may have a very low maintenance one that produces no waste.

Why should people who don't have a garden pay for this through council tax when they don't have a garden?

I think it's a good idea creating a separate charge for services that are only used by a few. In the long term it may help to reduce annual rises in council tax if non essential services have separate charges for the people who actually use them.

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Where does that idea end though? Only parents paying for schools and people with relatives in care homes paying for social care.

Simple a garden is a choice.

The human race is on going, we need it whether we as individuals have children or not, someone needs to look after us when we're old. That means education is essential. Again with social care is very much the same, you never know who is going to need it and when.

Some things are choices other things aren't. Like I said, a garden is one of them.

custardy

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

Simple a garden is a choice.

The human race is on going, we need it whether we as individuals have children or not, someone needs to look after us when we're old. That means education is essential. Again with social care is very much the same, you never know who is going to need it and when.

Some things are choices other things aren't. Like I said, a garden is one of them.

What about paying towards events,parks,roads etc
is everything covered by council tax a choice?
Ask the Edinburgh residents who wont be using the tram, how much value for money that project is

billn

Simple a garden is a choice.

So are children, owning a car, the list is long. The councils have invented this extra tax that they are paid for.

Money-Saving-King

billn wrote: »

So are children, owning a car, the list is long. The councils have invented this extra tax that they are paid for.

There is no children tax!

If you own a car you pay road tax + tax on petrol!

The list may be long but as I have just said the 2 things you mentioned either don't have a tax or already have a tax!

billn

There is no children tax!

Who pays for their education?

Money-Saving-King

billn wrote: »

Who pays for their education?

As I said, education is essential for society!!!

Whether or not you have had children, more particularly if you don't have children (the important bit I mentioned earlier, hint - someone needs to look after us when we're old)

Would you care to prove otherwise?????

billn

As I said, education is essential for society!!!

Whether or not you have had children, more particularly if you don't have children (the important bit I mentioned earlier, hint - someone needs to look after us when we're old)

Would you care to prove otherwise?????

I am not disputing what you have just said I am saying that we all pay council tax which is supposed to cover all amenities, we can't pick and choose what we pay for (quite rightly) so therefore the councils should not be able to start charging extra for services that should be covered by the tax.