A MAJOR review of Monmouthshire county council’s recycling services means that garden waste collection will cease through the winter - ending on Friday 30th November and restarting on 4th March. 

As a result, the council will no longer collect and recycle Christmas trees.

Cllr Bryan Jones, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for waste and recycling said: “I know that the Christmas tree collection is a very popular service and one that will be missed. However the decision to end it came whilst making savings to our garden waste service.

“During the winter months there is a substantial reduction in service use meaning the service is underused and inefficient.

“As a direct response to the increasing pressure on council budgets we were faced with the difficult decision to either increase the charges significantly to cover a full year service, or deliver a seasonal service and maintain current charging levels.”

The move is part of a package of changes to waste and recycling in Monmouthshire.

In coming months changes include the introduction of new vehicles with the ability to collect food waste separately from garden waste. This will enable food waste to be used to generate electricity and the garden waste composted on local farms.

Glass recycling boxes will also be rolled out across the county in March, following a successful pilot scheme in Abergavenny.

Visit monmouthshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/garden-waste for more information.