WYRE Forest residents are being given the chance to save money as the district council’s garden waste collection service enters its third year.

The cost of the service is normally £31 for collections plus a one-off joining fee of £20.50. People joining throughout January and February will only pay the collection charge.

Starting in March and running for nine months, collections are made fortnightly from brown wheelie bins.

Grass cuttings, hedge and shrub clippings, leaves, twigs and bark, small plants and weeds, cut flowers and windfall fruit can all be sent for composting through the scheme.

The composted waste creates a rich soil conditioner.

Jo Duffield, district council waste minimisation officer, said: “The service offers residents the chance to have their garden waste taken away in a convenient and environmentally friendly way.”

The garden waste collection crew were acknowledged as the national collection crew of the year 2011 at the Let’s Recycle Awards for Excellence held in London last May.

Conservative councillor Marcus Hart, member for environmental services, said: “The service has been a big hit with over 42,000 bins emptied containing 1,220 tonnes of garden waste being sent for composting during the last two years.”

The council is holding roadshows outside Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday, January 14 and Saturday, February 18, where residents can find out more about the service and join it.

The special offer is only available for applications received on or before Wednesday, February 29.

For more information or to download an application form, visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/gardenwaste