Bushey residents have been warned they have one month left before the council changes its green bin service.

From April, Hertsmere Borough Council will introduce its opt-in garden waste scheme, as residents will need to sign up and attach a sticker to their bin to have it collected.

The borough council hopes the new scheme will increase recycling rates, while reducing “avoidable” waste and helping to meet its environmental commitments.

It will continue collecting all green bins until the end of May to ensure all residents have the chance to sign up.

The first year’s subscription to the service will be free, after the council binned plans for a £50 annual charge for the collections in February.

Residents will then receive a renewal reminder before it runs out and will not be forced to commit to an on-going subscription.

The collection charge will instead come into force from April 2025, rising to £60 per bin per year for each additional container.

Hertsmere will use the estimated £870,000 income raised from garden waste fees to set up a new, free food waste collection service next year.