A four-week public consultation, launched yesterday, will gather feedback on a proposal to introduce a subscription fee for the service from 2025/26.
Hillingdon Council is seeking residents’ views on proposed changes to its garden waste collection service, aiming to make it more sustainable. A four-week public consultation, launched yesterday, will gather feedback on a proposal to introduce a subscription fee for the service from 2025/26.
Under the plans, households using the service would pay an annual fee of £70 to contribute towards its running costs. Despite the charge, the council emphasises that its service would remain better value than those offered by neighbouring boroughs, with a lower cost per collection, continued weekly collections during peak gardening months, and greater capacity for waste disposal. Residents who choose not to subscribe would still be able to dispose of their garden waste for free at the borough’s civic amenity sites.
The council argues that the proposed change would ensure that only those who use the service bear the cost, rather than it being funded by all taxpayers, including those without gardens.
Councillor Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said the decision to explore a charge had been driven by financial pressures caused by central government funding shortfalls.
“The government has placed local authorities in a very difficult situation by failing to provide sufficient funding to meet the demand for services.”
Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Community and Environment
“The government has placed local authorities in a very difficult position by failing to provide sufficient funding to meet rising service demands,” he said.
“Earlier this month, the government broke its promise to fully cover councils for the increase in employers’ national insurance costs, and the recent upturn in inflation has made that budget gap even bigger.
“The vast majority of London boroughs already charge for garden waste collection, with many offering only a fortnightly service. We are not proposing to alter the way we currently collect garden waste—only to introduce a charge to ensure a more sustainable operating model.
“We are always looking to shield residents from extra costs, but this proposal would help us continue delivering value for money compared to other boroughs.”
The consultation runs until Monday, 31 March, with a final decision expected in the spring. Residents can have their say via the council’s website.
Recently, Hillingdon Council approved its budget for 2025/26, reaffirming its commitment to delivering value-for-money services while keeping council tax among the lowest in outer London. The council continues to challenge the government on its long-standing underfunding of local authorities and is calling for a fair funding settlement to meet increasing service demands.
The council is facing unprecedented financial pressures due to rising demand and costs for social care and housing services. Additionally, the borough must absorb an extra half a million pounds in costs following the government’s National Insurance increase. Hillingdon is also shouldering a disproportionate financial burden due to the impact of Heathrow arrivals on local services, a responsibility undertaken on behalf of the government without adequate reimbursement.
Despite these financial challenges, the council remains committed to investing in essential services and modernising its operations to ensure long-term sustainability. This includes a proposed charge for garden waste collection, a practice already implemented by nearly all London boroughs.
Over the next five years, Hillingdon will invest up to £342 million in services and facilities, alongside £514 million in additional housing stock and property improvements. Major investment areas include roads and pavements, care home capacity, special educational needs placements, school building improvements, and environmental initiatives to reduce the council’s carbon footprint. The borough will also allocate funds for modernising the Civic Centre, upgrading digital technologies, and enhancing parks and playgrounds through the Chrysalis scheme.
The council remains committed to its rigorous cost-saving measures to minimise the financial burden on residents. While core council tax will increase by 2.99 per cent, with an additional 2 per cent levy for adult social care, Band D properties in Hillingdon will still pay significantly less than those in neighbouring boroughs. The total Band D council tax in Hillingdon will be £1,462 per year, in contrast to Harrow’s £1,905.48, Hounslow’s £1,595.44, and Ealing’s expected £1,550.64. An additional £490.38 per Band D property will be added due to the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept.
Cllr Martin Goddard, Cabinet Member for Finance, said the council remains focused on ensuring residents receive high-quality services at the best value. He criticised the government for failing to provide adequate funding, highlighting the impact of the National Insurance tax increase, which has placed an additional financial burden on the borough. He emphasised that while the council is working hard to navigate these financial challenges, the current system of local government funding is fundamentally flawed and requires urgent reform.
