CHARGING people £50 a year for garden waste collection is a “lose-lose situation”, opposition parties claim.

Redbridge Council voted down calls to reconsider the decision at an extraordinary committee meeting at the Town Hall on Wednesday (January 4).

Both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative opposition groups voiced major criticisms, but the Labour administration stuck to its decision to push ahead.

From April this year, people in Redbridge will have to pay a £50 online fee to get their green waste collected in exchange for 50 biodegradable rubbish bags.

Lib Dem Cllr for Roding Gwyneth Deakins branded the decision “rushed” and “ill-thought out”.

She said: “We asked a lot of questions about the scheme at the meeting, but it was a complete blocked wall, and they’re going ahead regardless.

“They know it’s an unpopular decision, but they’re just hoping people won’t make a fuss.”

Before Christmas council leader Jas Athwal defended the decision, claiming Redbridge cannot afford to continue collecting garden waste now the grant that funded the scheme has run out.

He said: “That grant always had a start date and an end date, which was the end of this year.

“If we were to carry on collecting garden waste for free, we would have to subsidise it with council money.

“And at a time where we have to save £42.6 million over the next five years, it was an easy choice to make.”

Cabinet member for environment and sustainability Cllr John Howard added cutting the free collection service will save £2 million, which can now be spent on protecting frontline services.

But Cllr Deakins is defiant the Labour group could have avoided the cut.

She said: “Our recycling rates in this borough are awful, and this is only going to make them worse.

“The scheme is poor value for money, and much more expensive than other boroughs already charging for it.

“This means some people will just dump their waste or end up burning it.

“Others will have to drive to the recycling centre in Chigwell Road (South Woodford), which will mean more congestion and more pollution.

“This is a lose-lose situation and will deter people from doing the right thing.

“Recycling is so important for all of our futures, but that’s it, they’ve made up their mind.

"The fact is they have their own schemes they will keep spending money on, but refuse to consider this one."

Redbridge Council has been contacted for further comment.