HOUSEHOLDERS across Teignbridge will have to pay £35 a year in future if they want their garden waste collected.

Claims that the new fee is an extra tax have been rejected, although if the expected take-up rate is achieved the annual income for the district council would be more than £660,000.

The change is due to come about in June 2015 as part of a scheme the authority claimed offered the 'best affordable' way to improve recycling rates and modernise the system.

The fortnightly black bin collections are to remain but garden waste will only be collected if people subscribe to the new service.