Garden waste collections in County Durham are due to start next month – but there’s still time to make sure your house is included.

The first collection for those who have already subscribed to the service take place the week beginning Tuesday, 3 April, followed by fortnightly collections until autumn when the collection season ends.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships said: “More than 51,000 residents have already signed up to receive garden waste collections in 2018 but we would like to remind people that it’s not too late to join the scheme.”

Residents can still sign up for the service for a fee of £30. Collections will start as soon as possible after they sign up and they will receive the remaining collections before the season ends.

To sign up to the service or find out if a property is eligible, call 03000 261 000 or visit www.durham.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Residents who have already subscribed to the service are reminded to fix their bin sticker to the garden waste bin and put the bin out for collection by 7am on their collection day. Collection days can be found by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/MyDurham and entering the postcode and property number.

Residents are reminded that the following items can go in the garden waste bin for composting:

• Grass cuttings

• Shrubs

• Leaves

• Weeds

• Flowers and bedding plants

• Hedge clippings

• Prunings

• Small branches

Durham County Council provides garden waste collections to eligible properties in County Durham. For residents in the Teesdale area, garden waste collections are carried out by Rotters working in partnership with the county council.

Residents in this area should call 01833 690 022 or visit www.rotters.org.