The price of the fortnightly garden waste collection service is set to rise by seven times the rate of inflation.

Dorset Waste Partnership’s (DWP) service will increase by more than 14 per cent– from £35 to £40–next month.

More than 26,000 households have paid for the optional service since it launched alongside the ‘recycle for Dorset’ household recycling and rubbish collection scheme in October 2012.

The fee is reviewed every year by the DWP Joint Committee, made up of two councillors from each of the seven partner councils. This is the first time the fee has changed from the introductory price of £35.

Existing customers will be informed of the change before they are due to renew their service in March.

Cllr Hilary Cox, Chair of the DWP Joint Committee, said: “The garden waste service has proved incredibly popular, with around a fifth of homes where it is available signing up.

“The introductory price of £35 was very good value for a service provided all-year-round compared to other councils who charge a similar amount for a seasonal service.

“Councils do not have to collect garden waste and we only charge to cover the cost of providing the service, which is optional.

“Councillors review the fee each year, taking into consideration the pressures on household budgets as well as the cost of the service. "At around £1.60 per collection, the service still offers great value for money and can help save on fuel by cutting down trips to the recycling centre.”

People in areas where the ‘recycle for Dorset’ service is used can pay for a fortnightly collection of garden waste using a 240-litre wheelie bin, provided all-year-round except for two weeks after Christmas.

Residents in Purbeck and part of West Dorset have until 28 February to pay the introductory price of £35 for a year’s garden waste service. New customers in Christchurch, East Dorset and North Dorset should wait until after 1 March to pay for a collection starting in April to avoid paying for the short period up to April.

For more information about the garden waste service, go to www.dorsetforyou.com/gardenwaste