RESIDENTS across Hambleton are being urged to do their bit for the environment and sign up to a garden waste service this year.

Subscriptions for the district council’s 2018/19 service – which runs from April 1 – are now open, meaning new and existing customers can sign up for the £35 a year fortnightly collection service.

Uptake to the service which launched last April has seen more than 50 per cent of the district’s properties enrol – in excess of 21,000 licences have been bought.

Cabinet member Councillor Stephen Watson said: “We were delighted with the take up in our first year of charging – and have opened up the renewal process early in order to cope with the high demand.

“The price is remaining unchanged, which at £35 a year per bin for fortnightly collections we believe is excellent value for money.”

The last garden waste collections for 2017 were in November and they will recommence from February 5.

Only properties with garden waste licences will have their Christmas trees collected in February.

To subscribe to the wast service visit hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609-779977.