GARDEN waste collections in Ryedale will resume this week with residents reminded they will be charged for the service from June.

The fortnightly collection is suspended during the winter months, resuming at the beginning of this month. It will continue to be a free service until June when charges will be introduced for brown-bin emptying.

Last year, members of Ryedale District Council agreed to introduce the charge to ensure the service continued.

Residents will have to “opt-in” to the scheme, which will cost £27 for the period June to March next year and £36 from April 2015 to March 2016.

The council’s head of environment services, Phil Long, said information packs would be sent out next month with options about how to pay, which can be done online, or through a 24-hour freephone or the post office. Mr Long said; “Introducing a charge for this discretionary service means the council will be better placed to maintain delivery of both its essential, as well as other valued services. Over recent years an increasing number of local authorities have introduced charges, with around a third of councils in England now charging for this service.”

Mr Long said the council was planning to hold a one-day sale of home composters to encourage people to compost.

“We have had comments from some people who are not happy about the charge, but overall it has a fairly positive reaction and already we have had people trying to subscribe,” he added.

The garden recycling service costs the council more than £285,000 a year.

Councillor Linda Cowling, leader of the council, said she would encourage people to home compost. “I would say composting is the preferred option for everyone interested in helping the environment,” she said.

For further information about the changes go to ryedale.gov.uk