COTSWOLD residents are being encouraged to sign up for the paid-for garden and food waste collection service which thousands have already signed up for.

The 10th year of the service starts on Monday, April 3, and Cotswold District Council says it is pleased with the number taking it up, as everyone participating helps contribute to the authority's impressive recycling and composting rate of almost 60 per cent, the best in Gloucestershire.

The authority has held the cost of the service for the period 2017 to 2018 at £30 for a licence to use a green garden waste wheeled bin.

Those signing up will have all their garden waste collected weekly, and they will also be able to empty their unwanted food waste into the green bin.

There is also a cheaper alternative, a resident could agree to share their bin with a neighbour should the latter wish to contribute to the cost of the licence.

Applying for a licence by Friday, March 3, should guarantee that it will reach you before the new service year begins on April 3.

Additional licences can be purchased for a further £30 each per year. Additionally, for anyone who cannot accommodate a green wheeled bin at their property, 50 compostable brown paper garden waste sacks can also be purchased for £30 - available from the council’s Trinity Road offices or at the Moreton Area Centre.

Residents who receive Council Tax or Housing Benefit are entitled to a 50 per cent discount.

Councillor Sue Coakley, cabinet member for environment at Cotswold District Council, said: "Recycling garden waste helps us save precious resources and combats climate change so it’s great to hear that so many Cotswold residents have decided to subscribe to our collection service.

"Given the number of people who have subscribed I look forward to seeing excellent garden waste recycling figures again – and there is still time yet to sign up for those who haven’t got around to applying for a new licence.”