USERS of the garden waste scheme in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district council areas can leave out an extra bin in the next two weeks.

The service is available for customers of the councils’ paid-for brown bin service.

Extra waste should be no more than one brown bin load, which one person should be able to lift.

The councils want the waste to be put in a sturdy box or bag, which must be left open.

Collections take place in South Oxfordshire next week and in the Vale during the week starting March 26.

The councils are offering the service because the scheme was suspended for two weeks over Christmas, so crews could clear extra rubbish after the festive season.

The Vale’s cabinet member for waste Reg Waite said: “People have more garden waste in the spring so this is a useful collection for them.

“We are delighted with the amount of garden waste residents are putting out at the moment – it is extremely encouraging.

“All the garden waste is recycled and if people buy into the scheme it saves them trips to recycling centres.”

The brown bin service costs £37 a year in the Vale, and £34 in South Oxfordshire.

For further information about the scheme, visit www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk or www.southoxon.gov.uk