NEARLY 18,500 households have paid the £35 annual subscription to have their garden waste collected, Teignbridge councillors heard this week.

That represents around a 31 per cent take up, but the figures were not conclusive because in some instances households were sharing bins, Teignbridge Council Executive heard, on Tuesday.

The highest take-ups of the scheme, which began in September, were in Bishopsteignton (44.16 per cent) and Ipplepen (43.64 per cent), while the lowest was in Newton Abbot’s Bushell Ward, at 13.79 per cent.

Cllr Gordon Hook, in a notice of motion presented to the council’s September 28 meeting, had asked members to review the scheme because there was no proportionate reduction for residents who wished to join it during the year, and there was no equivalent refund for those leaving it.

‘We are not a private sector company. We are a public service and are not there to exploit. We are there to help,’ he told Tuesday’s meeting, adding that he was disappointed that the report on the roll-out of the scheme was being taken now.

‘I think it should wait until the scheme is complete,’ said Cllr Hook.

Leader Cllr Jeremy Christophers said he understood that the take-up was pretty much as predicted.

Cllr Stuart Barker said they had to remember that it was a voluntary scheme.

‘It is all about ensuring we can increase our recycling. I have never seen so much recycling put out on a weekly basis in my area,’ he said.

Cllr Kevin Lake said the scheme had been successfully rolled out to more than 60,000 homes.

‘We are getting some really positive feedback,’ he said.

It was decided to keep the optional garden waste scheme charge as it is and to keep it as simple as possible by maintaining the overall subscription.