Ashford Borough Council could be about to start charging for green waste collection.

The proposal being looked at would see residents who want garden waste collected paying £20 per year.

But although WyeCycle, which collects from 1,200 households in Wye and Brook and has achieved what is believed to be the best recycling rate in the country, welcomes the idea of charging for green waste collection, bosses there say the council proposals are “grossly unfair on poor people”.

Richard Boden from WyeCycle said: “It means people with a six figure salary and gardener who crams the bin full every week will pay the same as a pensioner with a tiny garden, who has no car so can’t go to the dump, so fills the bin just twice a year.”

Charging residents for green waste collection is one of several ideas being discussed by the council, which is looking at ways to increase income and reduce costs as it struggles to balance its books.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.