New brown bin change for West Suffolk Residents Published March 15, 2016 By Senior Airman Nigel Sandridge 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Starting April 4, the brown bin service is scheduled to change in the West Suffolk Area. The brown bin service is a country-wide program, which recycles garden waste and biodegradable kitchen waste. According to the West Suffolk Council, the new brown bin service has been implemented due to changes in local government funding. This change in service, which will be slightly different from the program currently in place, will affect residents in the Forest Heath and St. Edmundsbury areas. The brown bin service, created in 1990, was originally funded by the council tax, but the optional service will now only be available to community housing or off-base residents who choose to subscribe to the new £40 annual fee. The new brown bin service will offer the same disposal services as the previous program, with the exception of uncooked kitchen and food waste. Community housing or off-base residents will be required to contact the council to sign up for continued service. The cost is covered under the military utility allowance received each month. If you are a resident of military family housing, the cost of this bin service will also be incorporated and supported with military housing funds. Householders who do not wish to pay for the service can take their garden waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centres, compost it at home or split bin fees with neighbours. Should you opt out of the service, you will not receive a pick-up after Friday, March 28, 2016. For further information on these changes please visit www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/brownbins.