Homeowners in High Wycombe and its surrounding areas will be charged for green bin collections starting from this week.

The 'opt-in' chargeable green waste collection service began on Monday, September 26 in the Wycombe area including Marlow and Princes Risborough.

The collections are due to take place once a fortnight and will be suspended over December and January.

It will cost £50 per year to sign up for the service.

A Buckinghamshire Council spokesperson said: “The annual cost of the garden waste collection service is £50. You may request additional bins at a cost of £50 per bin, per year. If your property is not suitable for bins, you will be sent reusable bags.

“Collections take place every two weeks, on the same day as your recycling or general rubbish bin. Please check your bin day to see when your collections will be scheduled.

"Your subscription will need to be renewed yearly for your service to continue. Collections are suspended for a 6-week period between December and January each year.”

Areas such as the former Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, and South Bucks patches already have the opt-in service.

Buckinghamshire Council said charging Wycombe residents as well as those living in other areas will “harmonise” the service, but there has been widespread anger.

There was been fury among residents when the decision was announced with Cllr Alec Barron, of Chepping Wye Parish Council, told the Beaconsfield and Chepping Wye Parish Council the plan was “disgusting”.

One resident, Leslie Kownacki, told the Bucks Free Press the charge mentioned in the letter, received on June 6 and signed by Bucks Council cabinet member for climate change and environment Cllr Gareth Williams, was “disgraceful”.

Another Wycombe resident who contacted the Free Press, but did not want to be named, said the charge is “totally ridiculous” after an increase in council tax contributions.

In April, it was revealed the move will generate an estimated additional gross income to the council of between £900,000 and £1,100,000 per year.

In a statement previously given to the Bucks Free Press, Cllr Williams said: “Aligning charges for the garden waste service will ensure parity across all areas and that Buckinghamshire's residents are treated equally.

"Garden waste collection is an optional service, so anyone without a garden or who doesn't want a green waste collection service can simply choose not to sign up, and therefore won't be charged for the service.

“Residents who don't sign up can of course take their garden waste to one of our Household Recycling Centres where it will be recycled free of charge."