SPORTS clubs, schools and community groups that find themselves struggling to dispose of garden waste are being encouraged to sign up to a new scheme.

Hambleton Council introduced a charging service in April meaning every household or organisation must pay an annual fee of £35 per bin for the fortnightly collections. But for the first time it means they can have more than one green bin, providing a licence is bought for each one.

In Easingwold both the tennis and bowls clubs have done just that – with five bins between them.

Bowls Club secretary, Jean Woodhouse said the club jumped at the chance of getting extra bins.

She said: “We mow the lawns around three times a week and we used to have to dump it in a pile and take it to the recycling centre.”

The neighbouring tennis club have two bins which according to Secretary Sally Craggs means a lot less work for the team getting rid of the grass cuttings.

She said: “I would recommend that all sports clubs take up the chance of getting extra bins – we save the £35 per year cost by not having to make trips to the recycling centres with it.”