RESIDENTS in Reading could soon be slapped with an annual charge of £50 for their green bins to be collected if controversial new proposals are approved.

Householders currently have garden waste collected for free from their doorstep, but due to cutbacks committee members are being forced to consider how to best save money.

The move, which would also see a surcharge of £15 for people who use bags to recycle waste, are part of the measures to tackle the funding gap of more than £41million by 2020.

“Nobody likes having to start paying for something which was previously free,” said Cllr Liz Terry, Reading's lead member for neighbourhoods.

“But I hope residents who use the service will consider it a reasonable price to pay for such a good and convenient service.”

Policy committee members are being asked to agree the introduction by the end of September.

If approved, it would mean people would have to start paying for the service from April 1, 2017.

Currently, the free service functions on an 'opt-in' basis which is subsidised by Reading Borough Council at a cost of £300,000 a year.

At present, 16,228 homes take advantage of the scheme to have their bins collected every fortnight, which means those who do not take part are effectively paying for the scheme with their council tax.

Neighbouring boroughs already charge members of the public for waste collection.

Residents in Wokingham are paying £60 a year for their garden waste collection, while people from Bracknell and Oxford pay slightly less at £40 and £46 respectively.

The council confirmed the current one-off payment of £36.10 for the initial supply of a green bin and £11.35 for a bag would continue.

The committee meeting to discuss the proposals take place on September 26.

Tell us what you think: Should the council make the £50 annual charge? Email: news@readingchronicle.co.uk or comment online.