Residents invited to shape the 2027/28 garden waste service in West Lindsey

West Lindsey District Council is asking residents for feedback on two proposed options for the district’s garden waste collection service in 2027/28. Residents can read the proposals and complete the survey by visiting the council’s website www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/gardenwaste2026 before 9am, Tuesday, 1 December 2026.

The options under consideration are:

• Option 1: £50 a year for 18 collections between March and November, approximately £2.78 per collection.
• Option 2: Up to £57 a year for 22 collections across the year, approximately £2.59 per collection. This would include winter collections and an opportunity to dispose of real Christmas trees in January.

The council says the additional collections would respond to a longer growing season and changing weather patterns. Met Office data reports there has been 21% more growing days than the 1961–1990 average. Additional winter collections could reduce the need for some subscribers to take garden waste to household waste recycling centres.

In West Lindsey, the garden waste service is optional. Only households that subscribe pay the annual charge; the service is not funded through Council Tax. The £48 charge no longer fully covers the cost of the service and therefore needs to be reviewed.

Residents who chose not to use the service can take their garden waste to their nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre for free or compost it at home.

Chairman of the Thriving Council Committee, Cllr Peter Morris said: “We know household budgets remain under pressure, so it is important that residents have a meaningful say before any decision is made.

“These options offer different balances between annual cost, collection frequency and value for money. We want to understand which approach residents would prefer and how they might use collections during the winter months.” The Thriving Council Committee will consider the consultation findings alongside financial, operational and environmental factors before making a recommendation on the future service. Paper copies of the survey are available by emailing: engagement@west-lindsey.gov.uk. For information about the garden waste service, including what can be placed in the bin and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the council’s garden waste webpage: Garden Waste collection service | West Lindsey District Council