PEOPLE are being encouraged to have their say on proposed changes to kerbside garden waste collection, which could save Wiltshire Council thousands of pounds.

Garden waste is currently collected at the kerbside every fortnight, but the council has put together three proposals to reduce the cost of the service.

Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member responsible for waste management, said: “The council faces significant financial pressures with reduced funding from central government, increased service demand and inflation and these pressures are likely to increase.

“We need to make savings to help the council deliver its priorities of protecting vulnerable people, boosting the local economy and bringing communities together. “These changes will not always be easy, so we want to involve local people in any decisions we make to ensure people have a chance to have their say.”

People will be asked to choose which of these three options best meet their needs: • A three-month suspension of the kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in December, January and February.

• A five-month suspension of the kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in November, December, January, February and March.

• To introduce a chargeable kerbside garden waste collection service instead of the current service Currently, only 10 percent of green waste is collected between December and February, and 25 percent is collected between November and March. The third option would see a charge of £35 per bin per year.

The household recycling centres in Wiltshire still accept garden waste, and the council will continue to provide subsidised compost bins which can compost garden waste and food waste at home.

To have your say go to wiltshire.gov.uk, look out for the summer edition of the council’s Your Wiltshire Magazine or email gardenwasteconsultation@wiltshire.gov.uk before September 1.