Garden waste collections return, are you eligible for a green home grant, and action on flytippers

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Cleaner and greener

Latest news on the environment and waste in Allerdale

Green bin collection

Garden waste collections are back 

Gardeners in Allerdale are being reminded of the return of garden waste collections over the coming weeks. 

Garden waste bins can be used for all green waste such as leaves, branches, grass, flowers and plants. Residents are asked not to put household waste or recycling, soil, rubble, concrete or flower pots and trays in the bins, and to shake off as much soil from plants and roots as possible.  

Collections will return as normal on a fortnightly basis. This means the first collection will be in either the week beginning the 7 March 2022, or 14 March 2022, depending on which round the household is on.   

Residents are advised to check their collection day on the council’s website: www.allerdale.gov.uk/bincollections 

Garden waste can also be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres in Maryport, Wigton and Workington as well as other sites in Cumbria. More information can be found at: Household Waste Recycling Centres | Cumbria County Council 

If a collection is missed, users can report it to the council on this page too. 

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Grant funding available to improve energy efficiency in homes

green home grant

A new scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Allerdale has been launched.

The Green Homes Grants (LAD2) provides funding for residents who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their home. It is targeted at those living in the least efficient properties. These are likely to be properties with an energy efficiency rating of E to G. However, properties with an efficiency rating of a D may be considered too.  

To be eligible the household must have an income of less than £30,000 or someone in the home must receive a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Income Support. 

The scheme is being provided by Allerdale Borough Council in partnership with Eden District Council who are the local lead authority and the energy company E.ON. Eden council has been working with the Local Energy Northwest Hub who sit within the department for Business, Energy Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who award the grant funding. In total some £5.07m has been allocated to Cumbria. 

Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded under the scheme for owner occupiers. If people live in tenanted properties, then a minimum contribution by the landlord of one third of the total cost is required, with the average subsidy cost not to exceed £5000 per dwelling. 

All the necessary information is available on our website .

The sort of measures that can be funded are: 

  • External Wall Insulation (EWI). 
  • Solar PV. 
  • Loft insulation. 
  • Cavity Wall Insulation. 
  • Air Source Heat Pumps. 
  • Smart heating controls. 

Find out more

Cllr Marion Fitzgerald, the council's deputy leader with responsibility for housing, said: “Energy prices are high on the agenda at the moment, and making your homes more efficient is a good way to reduce your heating bills. Therefore, I’d encourage everyone who is eligible for this scheme, to get their application in as soon as possible.” 

All residents need to do is go to the council’s website, check if they are eligible and then apply. To apply, residents need to go to E.ON's website  or telephone 0333 202 4820.  

E.ON will do a phone assessment to confirm measures and eligibility, before making arrangements to do a home survey. 

The deadline for carrying out an assessment and to determine household eligibility is the end of March 2022. All works must be completed by the end June 2022.  

It is the responsibility of the property owner to check any planning permission requirements for any alterations to their property paid for through this scheme.  Funding applications for certain buildings will not be considered without prior planning permission having been granted. This could be the case with properties such as those that are listed, are in the Lake District National Park or in Conservation Areas. Other circumstances may also apply. 

The scheme aims to:  

  • Help people to lower their energy bills by increasing lower-income homes’ energy efficiency rating.   
  • Progress towards the UK’s target for carbon net zero by 2050.  
  • Support clean growth and ensure homes are thermally comfortable, efficient, and well adapted to climate change.  
  • Support economic resilience and a green recovery in response to the economic impacts of Covid-19, creating thousands of jobs. 

Residents can check their property’s energy rating online 

Find out more


A-Z of waste and recycling

Action on fly-tippers

fly tipping

We recently issued a number of fixed penalty notices for £400 to people whose rubbish was found dumped at one of our recycling bring sites. The rubbish included used cat litter, nappies, wood, and food waste - not the sort of waste that our recycling bring sites are designed to take. 

And last week a person was caught by one of our late night patrols on our bring sites. They dumped a bag of domestic waste, claiming (incorrectly) that "everyone does it." No excuse. It cost them a £400 fine. 

You can find more information about fly tipping and how to dispose of things properly can be found on our website.

Find out more


Lottery graphic (2)

Recycling information