Time's up for the county's garden waste banks at community recycling sites according to Powys County Council, which says it will be removing them over the next two weeks.

The banks from 35 community recycling sites are being removed with the council blaming fly-tippers and commercial businesses for 'abusing' the free service.

Earlier this year, the council announced plans to introduce a paid for kerbside garden waste collection service, which would see residents charged between £30 and £35 for kerbside collections of garden waste between April and November.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste, said the removal of the garden waste containers would need "some adjustment from the community".

"Green waste banks at community recycling sites are unique to Powys but unfortunately they have been open to abuse by both fly-tippers and commercial gardeners," he said.

"We appreciate that the loss of the garden waste banks will require some adjustment from the community however we anticipate that the new kerbside service will increase the amount of compostable garden waste that we collect, provide a more convenient service for residents and also realise a saving to the authority.”

The council say those householders who do not wish to participate in the new service are able to continue to use the council’s household waste recycling centres or compost their green waste at home.