A £44 annual fee for garden bin collections could soon be introduced for Kenilworth households.

The new charge, which would begin on August 1 2022, is expected to generate over £1million each year for Warwick District Council.

WDC is the only authority in Warwickshire that does not currently charge for its green bin collections.

But with neighbours Stratford introducing collection charges in April 2021, WDC looks set to follow suit as part of the merger agreed in December.

The opt-in scheme would start alongside the new '123+' bin collections this summer.

There will be a reduced rate of £20 for 2022/23 because the scheme will start part way through the financial year.

The £44 charge for garden and food waste would then begin in April 2023.

"The collection of garden waste is not a statutory service – i.e. one that the council is obliged to provide, and therefore the council may charge for this discretionary service should they wish to," a council proposal said.

"Charging for garden waste collections has become more common over recent years, providing a legitimate way to raise new income to contribute to the provision of expensive and front facing waste collection and cleansing services."

Garden waste charges were first discussed in 2020 but WDC delayed the introduction due to the pandemic.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council started the new charges in April 2021 and has already seen 48,000 households sign up.

WDC is also planning to allocate £50,000 just to pay for the marketing and administration involved in introducing the new fees.

"Over 75 per cent of local Authorities in England currently charge for garden waste collections with prices ranging from £25 to over £90 per year," the proposal added.

"The average is around £46 per year."

WDC's cabinet will discuss the plans on Thursday, February 10 before putting them to the full council.

(Image by Brian Robert Marshall via geograph.org.uk)