GARDENERS in the Cotswolds are urged to sign up for the district council's new paid-for garden waste collection service.

The current free fortnightly green waste service is due to stop in April when the new weekly service, which costs £30 a year, will be introduced across the district.

Only householders who have paid £30 a year for a garden waste wheeled bin licence or a supply of 50 brown paper garden waste sacks will receive the new service. Residents who receive council tax benefit are entitled to a 50 per cent discount.

Cllr Tricia Roeser, of Upper Oddington, one of the thousands of residents who have already signed up for the new collection service, urged householders who still want their grass cuttings and hedge clippings collected from April to register for the new service now.

"Under the new arrangements, the council will only collect your garden waste if you have paid for the service," said Cllr Roeser, a member of the council's waste project board. "That is why it is important to make sure you register now."

She said the new service would reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

"We believe £30 per garden waste wheeled bin licence per year- which works out at 58p per week- is very reasonable, particularly when compared with the cost of taking garden waste to your nearest household recycling centre," said Cllr Roeser.

Invoices are being sent out to residents who have indicated they wish to subscribe to the new service. Once those invoices have been paid, householders will receive either an annual licence for their garden waste wheeled bin or a supply of 50 brown paper garden waste sacks depending on which they have requested.

Residents who continue to use green wheeled bins under the new service will be able to empty food waste into them as well because both food and garden waste will be sent for composting together.

To register for the new weekly garden waste collection service by visiting www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/ wastesurvey or by calling the council's waste hotline on 01285 623123.