ALMOST 14,000 households have already subscribed to the council’s 2018/19 paid-for garden and food waste kerbside collection service.

The eleventh year of the service starts on Monday April 2.

Cllr Sue Coakley, cabinet member for Environment at Cotswold District Council, said: "I am bowled over by the number of people subscribing to the scheme this time around.

"Recycling garden waste helps us fight climate change and saves dwindling resources so it’s very uplifting to know that thousands of Cotswold residents have decided to subscribe to our kerbside collection service for 2018/19.

"Given the number of people who have signed up, I look forward to recording excellent garden waste recycling figures again – and there is still time for even more residents to apply for a new licence.

“The council has held the cost at £30 per licence for the use of a green garden waste wheeled bin during 2018/19.

"We have been able to maintain this price by encouraging as many people as possible to pay by credit or debit card, either by filling in the relevant online form, or by seeking help from an adviser on the council’s waste hotline 01285 623123.

"Having said that, we realise that there may be exceptional circumstances when residents do not have their own credit or debit card and, in those instances, our staff will be pleased to process a cash or cheque payment for the service.

"Apparently, a few residents who fall into this ‘exceptional’ category have assumed that they can no longer purchase a garden waste licence – this is not the case and we would urge them to contact the Council so that we can help them register for 2018/19.”

To sign up, go to www.cotswold.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste/ and press the green button.