RESIDENTS in Fareham may be charged for their garden waste collection to cover £400,000 black hole in funding.

A recent decision by Hampshire County Council means that the borough council will no longer benefit from the £336,000 income from recycling.

To meet the shortfall, Fareham council are proposing a £1.48 a week charge - residents will have to pay for a 240 litre wheelie bin.

Chairman of the Streetscene scrutiny panel, Councillor Tiffany Harper said: "It would mean we could triple the amount of green waste we could take from each household. That is a good thing.

"We wouldn't expect people to lift the bags so it would be easier for them to take rubbish onto the household threshold. It would also be safer for our crew who wouldn't have to lift so much weight."

There has also been concerns over the cost for residents and the rise in fly-tipping.

Cllr Harper added: "Disposing of waste properly would also stop fly-tipping. If people aren't using the services, then there are risks of fly-tipping happening. To get rid of all your waste in a responsible manner is very important, whether its green waste, household waste or recycling.

"If there is a low take up then it wouldn't cover costs but that is an unknown figure until we go ahead.

"There has been a mix of responses Some people are very for it and some people are against it so it is difficult to judge what the take up will be."

If approved, the creation of the scheme would require more than £300,000 in its first year to set up.

The current service would end December 2021 with the new service beginning in February 2022.

The plans will be decided on at the council's executive meeting on October 12.