CHARGES are to be introduced for bulky waste items like furniture and white goods in the Stroud district.

Stroud District Council is introducing the charges at the beginning of an overall programme of changes to waste and recycling collections.

Until now, the council has been one of only a few across the country to have provided bulky waste collection for free.

Chairman of the council’s environment committee Cllr Simon Pickering said: “We have collected items such as fridges, three-piece suites and televisions from households at no charge, but of course it does come at a cost to the tax payer.

“We currently spend £165,000 a year on the service and with reductions in support from central government we have to make some pragmatic decisions.

“The money saved will also help us improve waste and recycling services for every household as we roll out a garden waste collection service early next year and a weekly food waste collection service before the end of 2016.”

From September 14 anyone contacting the council to have bulky waste collected will be charged £15 for the collection of up to three items.

Additional items will be charged at £5 per item. These charges are low compared to those of other councils in the area.

As part of a package of improvements, next February the council will also introduce an optional, garden waste collection service for households who want it. There will be a one-off £20 charge for the garden waste bin and a £36 annual fee.

The biggest changes, however, will come into action towards the end of 2016 with the introduction of a weekly food waste collection service.

At the same time, wheelie-bins will be introduced for the fortnightly collection of the remaining waste, although some households with restricted access or space will continue with black bags.

Between September 7 and 11 this year every household in the district will receive a copy of the council’s annual newsletter which provides an overview of the changes to waste and recycling services over the next 14 months.

Further information on the changes is available at: www.stroud.gov.uk/newscheme

Anyone interested in booking a bulky waste collection should call 01453 754424 or visit www.stroud.gov.uk/bulky