More than 250 tonnes of green waste has been collected in just five months across Tendring.

Tendring District Council launched a new service five months ago to collect the garden waste fortnightly from people’s doorsteps.

The optional scheme began in Clacton and was soon expanded district wide.

Already more than 2,000 customers have signed up to the two-year pilot scheme, which has a one-off charge of £25 for a bin plus an annual subscription fee of £50.

Nick Turner, councillor for the environment, said: “Residents have asked for some time about setting up a green waste service and now they have backed it by signing up in their droves.

“Weekly tonnage continues to increase steadily and we are up to about 24 tonnes each week.

“We have an ongoing promotion campaign and hope that tonnage will continue to grow throughout the period of the trial.”

No one is forced to take up the service which is being offered at the equivalent of £1 per week, and it saves on time and fuel with people not having to drive to the tip themselves.

Essex County Council has provided a composting facility for the garden waste for the duration of the trial, which it hopes will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

To sign up visit www.tendringdc.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 01255 686877.