Garden waste permit sales in Stockport hit £1.5m
More than 26,000 garden waste permits have been bought by residents in Stockport worth around £1.5m, the council has confirmed.
It is part of a new scheme where residents have to pay £59 a year if they want to continue weekly garden waste collections in their green bins from April, discounted to £39 for those getting council tax support.
Food waste will continue to be collected from green bins each week without needing a permit.
Changes are also coming to blue bins – for paper and cardboard – which will be collected every four weeks rather than every two weeks from May 26.
The plans were introduced by the council as part of its annual budget this year, after having to find £26m of savings to balance the books.
But the move has been controversial among residents, with some sharing fears that it could lead to more fly-tipping around the borough, a claim which the council's director of place management, Mark Glynn, has previously said is "unevidenced" in other areas with garden waste fees.
Cllr Mark Roberts, deputy leader of Stockport council and cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: "We know that introducing a charge for garden waste collection wasn't a decision everyone welcomed, and we completely understand the impact it may have.
"It's not a step we took lightly, but it does mean we can protect vital frontline services like libraries, parks, and social care while keeping the garden waste service running weekly for those who choose to use it.
"Importantly, food waste collection will still be collected at no additional charge.
"This is a big change, and we really appreciate your patience and feedback as we roll it out.
"We're pleased with how many residents have already signed up, and if you haven't yet, you can still order your permit online or at your local library. Permits are being sent out within three working days to ensure a smooth transition."
Stockport's garden waste permits will cover the period from March 31 this year to March 31, 2026.
Permits can be bought at any time but the price does not reduce throughout the year.
All permits will expire on March 31, 2026, and residents with green bins will need to buy a new permit to cover the next year.
Those without permits will not be able to use their green bins to get rid of garden waste.
They would have to remove garden waste in other ways, such as by taking it to a local recycling centre, or composting it at home.
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