Garden bin fees could increase demand for artificial grass

Many local authorities charge for plant waste collection, and it has been suggested this causes more people to use artificial grass.

The average cost for local authorities that charge for removing green waste is £31, but can be as high as £100. Chester does not charge for removing green plant waste unless residents need an extra bin. Some authorities in North Wales charge, and Wrexham is considering introducing a charge of around £25 a year from 2020.

According to Ilona Amos writing in The Scotsman, these charges could result in more people giving up gardening, getting rid of flower beds and installing artificial grass.

The environment spokesman for the Local Government Association, Martin Tett, justifies the charge for garden waste collection:

“Ultimately garden waste collection has to be paid for by someone. It’s only fair that those households which have gardens and generate the waste pay for the service.”

As an alternative, garden waste can be recycled into compost rather than being sent to landfill.

The small fee that some councils charge to remove plant waste is probably not the main reason why people install artificial grass in their gardens. More significantly, they want a lawn that requires minimal maintenance, looks good, can be used all year round, and is safe for children to play on in all weathers. If Chester and North Wales continue to have very hot and dry summers, artificial grass will not affected by hosepipe bans, as it does not need watering.