Residents of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse districts have embraced the new garden waste permit scheme, resulting in a nearly five percent increase in collections compared to the previous year, according to local councils.
As autumn approaches, additional garden waste collections will occur on regular collection days from October 27 to November 7. Six months into the launch of this innovative scheme, approximately 67,100 permits have been issued across the two districts, surpassing the previous 63,900 bins under the old direct debit system.
The new permit initiative was introduced in spring 2025 by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils. Residents now receive a sticker permit to affix on their bins, marking them as registered garden waste service users, with an option for annual renewal.
The majority of residents, 91 percent, opted to purchase permits via the council’s online portal. Additionally, the scheme provides a convenient online account management system called MyAccount, making permit renewal more seamless in 2026. Around 30,000 users have already registered, receiving reminders for upcoming renewals.
With 95 percent of garden waste service users contactable via email, up from 64 percent previously, the councils can now efficiently communicate any changes in service.
Sam James-Lawrie, the cabinet member for the environment from South Oxfordshire District Council, expressed gratitude to residents for adopting the permit scheme. “I’m pleased to see that the permit scheme is well-integrated, and we now have more collections than ever,” she stated. She noted that the new online account option will expedite the renewal process in 2026.
Hayleigh Gascoigne, representing the Vale of White Horse’s environmental services and waste division, acknowledged the challenges inherent in changing a popular service’s functions. Nonetheless, she applauded the districts’ residents for rising to the challenge, highlighting the program’s success and its ability to ensure that only paying participants receive collections.
The streamlined option for managing accounts online reduces the need for direct contact should personal or financial details change, enhancing customer service efficiency.
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