Garden waste collection subscription fee in Luton could be frozen for 2027

This inflationary rise would see the annual subscription become £51.50 for 2027, according to a report to the borough council’s scrutiny finance review group.

But councillors were warned this could push it into a loss-making service if there was the usual drop-off rate of residents wanting their green waste collected.

These service charges imposed by the local authority run from February to December each year.

Proposals to the committee also included delegated authority to set an inflationary increase to apply for 2028, said the report.

“An opt-in chargeable kerbside garden waste collection service began in the borough in 2021 to manage waste more sustainably, reduce landfill costs and cover the expense of the non-statutory service.

“Residents can still dispose of their own garden waste at the two civic amenity sites in the town. The dry summer meant the garden waste collection was lower than average.

“During 2025/26, the service cost just over £1m to operate, with subscriptions received around £0.9m.”

LBC’s head of safer neighbourhoods Tony Stefano told the review group: “This sets out the plan to be presented to the executive at the end of November, including the garden waste subscription for the 2027 season.”

Non-aligned Independent Barnfield councillor David Franks asked: “Is it usual for budget decisions for the year after next to be agreed now, asI’m surprised the executive is being asked to approve an inflationary price increase inbrown bin collection charges for 2028.”

Mr Stefano replied: “Anything you wish to say around that can go to the executive at the end of the month.”

He confirmed there are 18,457 subscribers to the garden waste service, which generates around £927,000 a year.

“A £1.50 increase would provide an extra £36,000,” explained Independent Alliance Group councillor Tom Shaw.

“If two per cent drop out and put their garden waste into their black bin, then it becomes a loss-making service. The income would be just over £900,000.

“What sense is there in driving the service into deficit by a £1.50 extra cost? It doesn’t make any financial, economic or climate friendly sense to do that.

“The whole point of doing it originally was that it would pay for itself. Why aren’t we looking at it in a different way? Keep it the same at £50.”

Mr Stefano acknowledged: “We’re just putting in a relatively small inflationary increase.”

Labour High Town councillor James Taylor, who chairs the review group, referred to this as “a policy making question”, saying: “That needs to be put to the people making the policy.”

Councillor Shaw added: “When we started charging, at a £40 annual cost, there were 22,000 subscribers.

“Now the number’s fallen to just over 18,000. With two per cent dropping out, that takes it down to £900,000 and you’ve a loss-making service.”

Labour Saints councillor Ghulam Abbas said: “I tend to agree that we seem to be just putting the price up for the sake of it.

“This will have a negative effect probably. I would propose we keep it at £50. There’s a cost of living crisis as well. People are struggling.”

Councillors agreed a recommendation to executive to keep the garden waste charge at £50.