GARDEN waste weighing more than two blue whales has been collected from homes in the first five months of a trial scheme.

Tendring Council launched the green waste scheme, costing households £50 a year, in Clacton in May.

Since then, it has expanded to the whole of the district and 2,000 residents have signed up for the fortnightly wheeled bin collections.

So far, more than 250 tonnes of garden waste has been taken to Essex County Council’s composting facility – more than the weight of two adult blue whales.

Nick Turner, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for environment, said the initiative, a two-year pilot, was already very popular.

For more information or to sign up, go to tendringdc.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 01255 686877.