THE price of garden waste collections has risen from £70 to £80 per year.

Wokingham Borough Council has added £10 onto the annual charge for the service used by thousands of residents each year.

Defending the move, a spokesman said: "As inflation remains high, the cost of collecting and disposing of garden waste has increased."

The price change will come into effect from April 1, 2023.

The service enables residents to have their garden clippings, grass cuttings, leaves and weeds collected fortnightly.

Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “Last year, around 10,300 tonnes of green materials were collected at the kerbside – the equivalent of more than 850 double-decker buses. Using the service is not only convenient for anyone with a garden, but it’s also great for the planet. It helps reduce our carbon footprint, while turning garden waste into compost for growing other plants.”