When you’re paying more council tax than ever, the last thing you expect is to be hit with extra charges for your bins.
But that’s exactly what sent James Buckley—aka Jay from The Inbetweeners—into a full-blown rant on his podcast this week.
Surprise Sticker Sparks Fury
The 37-year-old actor, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, was absolutely fuming after discovering a sticker slapped on his garden waste bin.
Rather than finding it emptied like usual, Buckley was greeted with a passive-aggressive note telling him he’d need to start paying to have it collected.
The local council, run by the Liberal Democrats, recently introduced a new annual charge for brown bin pickups—£60 for the first bin, and an extra £30 if you’ve got more than one.
And all this comes right after they raised council tax by 2.9%.
“What Do You Mean You’re Now Charging?”
Buckley let loose on his podcast The Buckleys, which he co-hosts with wife Clair. He opened with:
“Hey, I’ve got something to moan about. It’s annoyed me. It’s f*****g irritated me.”
He explained the situation with the sticker and mocked the council’s wording:
“Oh, we’re now charging”—as if they were doing him a favour before.
“No, no, no. We were always f*****g paying for it. It’s called council tax!”
Asking What Many Are Thinking
Buckley’s frustration echoed a sentiment shared by people across the country who feel like they’re paying more and getting less.
He questioned why services were being cut when bills were rising:
“Has my council tax come down? No. Has it gone up? Yes.
Why are you f***ing taking more money off me and doing less?”
Council’s Justification: Budget Gap
Chelmsford City Council claims the charges are necessary to plug a serious funding gap.
According to their website, the garden waste subscription is just one of several measures introduced to reduce a projected £13.3 million shortfall by 2030.
They pointed to rising costs driven by inflation, homelessness, and high interest rates, and said that government funding has dropped in real terms by around £11 million a year since 2010.
Garden Waste Not a Legal Obligation
The council is technically within its rights.
According to national guidelines, local authorities must collect household waste—but garden waste is a different story.
It’s considered a non-statutory service under the “Controlled Waste Regulations 2012.
” So councils can legally charge for it—or choose not to collect it at all.
That said, the sudden introduction of the fee hasn’t gone down well—especially when residents like Buckley feel blindsided.
Big Paychecks for Top Officials
To make matters worse, residents might feel a little stung when they hear about the council’s top salaries.
Chief Executive Nick Everleigh is reportedly paid a jaw-dropping £251,395—more than the Prime Minister.
Other senior staff also rake in six-figure salaries, with one director making over £170,000 a year.
Suggested Alternatives Don’t Impress
Those who choose not to pay the garden bin fee have been advised to either buy a discounted compost bin or haul their green waste to the local tip.
Unsurprisingly, that didn’t seem like a great deal to Buckley—or, likely, to other annoyed homeowners.
A Nationwide Issue
While Chelmsford’s decision might be hitting headlines thanks to Buckley’s fame, this issue isn’t unique to Essex.
Across the UK, councils are turning to extra charges like these to cover mounting deficits.
Still, the optics of raising taxes while reducing services—especially when council execs are making big money—are enough to trigger backlash from more than just a few furious podcasters.
Buckley Speaks for the Fed-Up Public
James Buckley’s outburst may have been colourful, but many would say he’s simply voicing what a lot of people are feeling.
With prices rising, services shrinking, and transparency often lacking, frustration is mounting—and people want answers.