Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanolgy raised his concerns about the increasing number of green bin collection charges at Westminster on Monday (September 11).

Mr Djanolgy's intervention on the issue took place during the Public Accounts Committee oral evidence session on 'the Government's resources and waste reforms for England'.

Mr Djanolgy disputed the increasing number of Local Authorities, including Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC), who have introduced charges for green bin collections.

During the evidence session ordered by The House of Commons, Mr Djanogly said: "It is incredibly unpopular, not least in my own constituency [HDC]."

In response, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) officials defended the policy of allowing green bin charging to take place on the grounds it does not impact recycling levels.

Emma Bourne OBE, the director of resources and waste at DEFRA, said: "At the moment, the evidence suggests to us that allowing charging is not inhibiting the recycling levels."

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HDC will start charging £57.50 a year to collect garden waste from April 1, 2024. 

The Huntingdonshire Conservative had attempted to 'call in' the decision to allow it to be debated again by councillors, but the temporary block was dismissed at a meeting of the district council's overview and scrutiny joint panel on (August 10)

At the meeting, officers said "first and foremost," the decision on the green bin charge was financial but said there would be environmental benefits as well. 

People across the district though have expressed their anger at the charge and have argued that it should be scrapped, with a petition started by resident Thomas Gosling reaching more than 6,000 signatures.

READ MORE: Public anger over £57.50 green bin charge

However, the authority has said it would be facing a £1.4million deficit without introducing the charge to continue collecting green bins. 

Cllr Stephen Ferguson said at the joint panel meeting: "When looking at the outcome of all the cuts we would have to make to try and make the savings, [garden waste subscription service] was by far the least worst decision we can make."