A WIRRAL councillor believes homeowners who paid to have their garden waste emptied are ‘morally entitled’ to a refund.

Leasowe ward councillor Ian Lewis claims the majority of the 35,000 who have paid the £35 'brown bin tax' did not need to.

He added that many are unaware that they can put garden waste in their green bins at no extra cost.

Residents were invited to ‘opt in’ to pay extra to have their garden waste wheelie bins emptied.

The move to start billing householders £35 a year for the service caused an outcry and was branded as a 'bin tax'.

Cllr Brian Kenny, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said that householders could put garden waste in their green bins.

Cllr Lewis told the Globe: "I asked the cabinet member if it was true that residents, particularly those with smaller gardens and less garden waste, could put the waste in their green bin. Councillor Kenny confirmed they could.

"However, no mention was made of this in the leaflet that was distributed to homes earlier in the year, telling people to pay £35 or lose the brown bin collection.

"It would appear that, in the rush to collect £1m, some of the people who have paid £35 have not been advised that they wouldn’t need to. The town hall certainly kept this quiet.

"The remaining 85,000 homes that haven’t paid the bin tax may not be aware they can still have some garden waste collected.

"I also believe some of the residents who have paid are morally entitled to a refund."

In response, Cllr Kenny said: "Residents may share a bin with a neighbour to reduce cost.

"However, one neighbour will have to take responsibility for the whole payment to the council and for ensuring the bin is presented correctly.

"We encourage residents to recycle their garden waste, where possible.

"This can be achieved through the collection service or, if you choose not to subscribe, you may consider home composting.

"Waste can also be taken to any of the household recycling centres in Wirral.

"As a last option, some garden waste can be placed in the green general waste bin.

"However, the council’s existing rules on presenting bins for collection will still apply.

The council will review its decision not to ban small quantities of garden waste from the residual waste collection on a regular basis to ensure the waste collection system does not become abused as a result of too much garden waste entering it.

"I would also stress that the Wirral Conservative Group, of whom Cllr Ian Lewis is a member, did not oppose the garden waste initiative at the time it was agreed by the council, so it is a bit much to complain."