Green bin charge change causes upset for West Berkshire residents

West Berkshire Council has defended criticism of its new green bin charges.

Instead of a flat fee for the first bin, the charge will now be based on each property’s council tax band.

But the move - which will see households in bands A – C pay less than last year, band D properties see no change, and bands E – H pay slightly more than last year - has been slammed on social media as discriminatory.

“I have to say, it feels distinctly unfair,” wrote Phil Long to the Newbury Weekly News.

“Here’s why: Last year, the cost was £50, flat rate. This year, you’ve [the council] introduced eight pricing levels, starting at £40 and increasing by £5 at each step. The lowest level is now £10 cheaper than last year, but most people — who fall in the middle or upper end — are now paying more.

“It looks like a transparent attempt to appear “fair” while extracting more money overall. If fairness were the goal, why not start from the middle and spread the cost evenly? Instead, the lower tier gets a discount, while the majority face yet another increase.

“Frankly, it’s hard not to see this as just another form of revenue generation — at the expense of residents. Is there no end to the quiet creep of costs West Berks imposes?”

The charges for a band A property start at £40, with five pound increases up to £75 for a band H property.

“Whilst we have made changes to the way we charge for the green bin this year, this change still means that over 55 per cent of residents who pay for the green bin will be paying less for it than before the Liberal Democrats came to power, and those paying more will still be paying significantly less than neighbouring authorities,” said Stuart Gourley, portfolio holder for the environment.

“We made these changes to support those who may otherwise not be able to make use of these services, and to help encourage recycling, and a greener, cleaner West Berkshire.”

The new subscription service year runs from Monday, August 25, 2025 to Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Last year, the council removed the need for subscription bin stickers thanks to new in-cab technology that tells crews which properties are subscribed.

Crews will continue to carry out spot checks and only collect garden waste from households that have a valid subscription.