Research shows the annual green waste charge in Three Rivers will be lower than the regional and national average.

The data compiled by Mantis said 20 councils in the East of England will charge for the kerbside collections in 2016.

But the average garden subscription bill costs £44.39, nine lower than the annual £35 which will come into force across the district next year.

Three Rivers District Council has introduced a £25 fee for the remainder of this year and this will be the lowest in the country, Mantis suggests.

More than half of councils in the East of England continue to collect garden waste free of charge.

The average collection fee in the country is £41.23.

David Goose, Managing Director at Mantis, said: “We hope that garden waste collection charges are encouraging more people to take up home composting, which is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of organic waste.

"However, there have been concerns that fees will increase fly-tipping, make recycling sites too busy, or divert more recyclable waste to landfill.”