Don't pay? We won't take your tree away! Council will only collect Christmas trees from waste scheme subscribers

The new "opt-in" garden waste service began on November 4, and householders must pay £56 per bin, each year, if they would like their garden waste bin to be collected and emptied.

The subscription service has come under heavy scrutiny after stickers for those who have signed up peeled off within days, subsequently delaying the start of the scheme by one month.

Now, the council has reminded residents that they must cough up and subscribe to the service if they would like their real Christmas tree to be recycled this year.

Shropshire Council said that more than £63,000 households have now subscribed to the new service, and with it costing each household £56 a year, it's estimated that, from that number, the cash-strapped local authority will have been paid more than £3.5 million in total so far.

The news comes after the council's cabinet member in charge of finance, Councillor Gwilym Butler delivered an update on the local authority's precarious financial position at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

He told members that the authority is currently predicting it will finish the financial year £35.1m over budget.

Shropshire Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, Ian Nellins said: "This Christmas our waste collection crews will once again be collecting real Christmas trees and taking them away to be recycled. 

"However, this year people must have subscribed to the garden waste service if they want their tree to be taken away. So, if you’re planning to buy a real tree, please remember to sign up to the service.

"I’m really pleased with the number of people that have subscribed so far and I want to thank everyone that has signed up. Each subscription is generating income for the council that will ensure we can continue to provide essential services for those who need them."