Council's change to Christmas tree collections sparks complaints

That’s the concern raised by residents of St Andrews and one councillor, after Swindon Borough Council decided to only collect the festive firs from people who have garden waste subscriptions.

Borough councillor Daniel Adams represents the ward and has written to the council in response to more than 100 comments from concerned citizens he received after sharing the news on social media, and wonders if it was a cost-cutting measure.

He said: “The feedback from the community has been overwhelming, with many feeling that this change could adversely impact their holiday season.

“There is a growing concern among residents about the potential rise in fly-tipping as a result of this decision.

“The inconvenience of transporting Christmas trees to the Household Waste Recycling Centre may lead to an increase in illegal disposal methods, negatively impacting our local environment.

“It is crucial to consider the broader consequences of this policy change.

“The holiday season should not be marred by the inconvenience of fly-tipping and potential environmental harm.

“Our residents, who contribute to our community through their council tax, should not feel as if they are missing out on a service that has been traditionally provided.

“It is important to communicate any changes proactively, as some residents may not have been aware of this modification before purchasing their Christmas trees.

“Lack of awareness and accessibility issues, such as not owning a car, have been raised by concerned citizens."

Cllr Daniel Adams (Image: Cllr Daniel Adams)

People are now being encouraged to take their trees to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

But, if that is not an option, Prospect Hospice can collect the trees in exchange for a donation on Saturday, January 6, and Sunday, January 7, 2024.

You can register for the charity's collections, which are operated on a first-come first-served basis, at https://ow.ly/EOHt50QfqWa and anyone who would like to volunteer to help the hospice's collections should email communityfundraising@prospect-hospice.net 

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The decision to remove the free Christmas tree collection service was not made to save money.

"It was taken to help our hard-working recycling crews during the busiest time of the year.

“Our staff are working flat out rolling out our new waste and recycling service and we have made this a priority for residents.

“The tree collection service used a disproportionate amount of resources to pick up trees from around 1.5 per cent of households in the borough."