HOUSEHOLDERS in Rowley Regis, Oldbury, Blackheath and Cradley Heath are reminded that the fortnightly garden waste collection service has started up.

Garden waste collections in Sandwell have started getting under way again in time for spring gardening – and will run through to the autumn.

The collections are every two weeks.

Residents can check when their collections are at www.sandwell.gov.uk/binday

Deputy council leader councillor Maria Crompton said: “Spring is just around the corner and it’s great to have our garden waste collection back for residents as they start to clean up their gardens.

“We encourage people to recycle all their garden waste by putting it in their green bins – this includes grass cuttings, shrubs and hedge clippings, plants and weeds, as well as bark and old flowers.”

If residents have large amounts of heavy garden waste, then it can be split over several collections or taken to the tip at Shidas Lane in Oldbury, open 8am to 4pm daily, including weekends.

Residents are reminded that garden waste should be loose inside the bin and old plant pots cannot be recycled and should be placed in the grey household waste bin.

All garden waste is taken to a specialist site in the region and recycled into compost.