Nub News understands Cheshire East Council has met its target for the number of residents signing up for its garden waste scheme. 

Cheshire East started charging £56 for emptying garden waste bins in January this year after the environment and communities committee voted to press ahead with the charge last July. 

The council's adopted medium-term financial strategy (MTFS)stated that the garden waste recycling scheme had a total income target of £4.05 m, with £900,000 of this income budgeted for in 2023/24. 

It was also revealed that 90,000 subscriptions were needed to meet the total MTFS income target as revealed here Information gained through a Freedom of Information request has revealed a current take up of 62.1 per cent of households.

Councillor Mick Warren said there was an increase in take-up during December and January. (Photo: Cheshire East)

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East's environment and communities committee, said in a story here that: "During December and so far this month (January), we have seen an increase in the rate of subscriptions to the scheme and we expect this trend to continue as garden bin collections restart over the next couple of weeks and we move towards spring and the growing season." 

At that point, almost 56,000 households had subscribed to the scheme – against the 90,000 subscriptions needed to meet the total MTFS income target – which equates to an income of around £3.15m to date. 

But information gained by Ken Shenton from Alsager through a Freedom of Information request to Cheshire East Council has revealed that as of June 1st, 93,176 of a possible 150,000 households had signed up to the garden refuse scheme - 62.1 per cent of households. 

One person commenting on the take-up felt people were obliged to sign up as they had "little choice". 

"Going to and from to the recycling centres isn't possible for everyone - car ownership, extra miles and physical ability," they said. 

"So some have had to pay it. Irony a green tax creating more pollution and fly tipping." 

Nub News has approached Cheshire East Council for a comment.   

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