FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
Case reference FOI2026/00327
Received 17 March 2026
Published 27 April 2026
Request
How much do you spend annually on annual border plants and how much do you spend on perennials? Can you break it down for the last three years please?
How many tonnes of flowers are discarded each year? Can you break it down for the last three years please?
What happens to them?
Do you use weedkiller? Or an organic alternative?
If so, how much do you spend on weedkiller each year? Can you break it down annually please?
Response
Please see information below:
1. Annual Spend on Border Plants and Perennials
Our annual cost for summer bedding (annuals) which includes hanging baskets is £5564 and autumn bedding around £800.
2. Tonnes of Flowers Discarded (Last Three Years)
The Council does not record floral planting waste in tonnes as a discrete dataset within Operational Services.
Floral waste arising from maintenance activities is managed as part of general green waste streams and processed accordingly. As such, this information is not held in the format requested.
3. Disposal Arrangements
All green waste, including any floral arisings, is managed through the Council’s green waste processes. This material is typically sent for composting or organic treatment in line with standard waste management practices.
4. Use of Weedkiller or Organic Alternatives
The Council does currently use weedkiller as part of its operational maintenance activities. However, we are actively reducing reliance on chemical weed control through alternative approaches.
A key initiative is the implementation of a Wildflower Verge Trial across rural road verges. This trial introduces wildflower seeding to:
-
Support biodiversity and pollinator activity
-
Reduce the need for chemical weed control
-
Provide a more sustainable long term maintenance approach
The trial is currently being delivered across approximately 80% of rural road verges, with urban areas excluded at this stage due to operational constraints.
5. Annual Spend on Weedkiller
|
Financial Year |
Spend (£) |
|
2023 to 2024 |
2,500 |
|
2024 to 2025 |
2,500 |
|
2025 to 2026 |
500 |
Current Position and Future Forecast
As a result of the Wildflower Verge Trial:
-
Glyphosate use is expected to reduce by approximately 80%
-
Future annual spend is projected to reduce to approximately £500
-
Remaining usage will be focused on urban areas and specific operational requirements
This represents a significant shift towards a more sustainable and environmentally focused approach, while also delivering an estimated annual saving of £2,000.
Documents
This is South Derbyshire District Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.