Garden waste
We also provide a garden waste service to local homes.
The service is optional and costs £41 a year (per bin) for fortnightly collections (maximum of 23 garden waste collections), apart from over the Christmas period and into the New Year,
The service runs from January to December and costs £41 per calendar year, regardless of when you sign up. If you are signed up, we will empty your brown bin every two weeks (on alternate weeks to your non recyclable waste).
What to put in your garden waste bin
Leaves, weeds, tree and shrub prunings, grass and hedge cuttings, short branches and twigs, garden plants and unwanted windfall fruit/home-grown vegetables that have not been into the house/used in food preparation.
Please do not put the following waste in your brown bin
Food waste (including vegetable peelings), plastic bags or biodegradable liners, cardboard, paper, plant pots, pet waste, soil or turf, or large pieces of wood or branches as these are not easily compostable.
This is because our garden waste is processed at an open-windrow composting facility, where materials are composted in the open air. Unlike in-vessel composting, this method doesn't reach the high temperatures needed to safely break down food waste, which can contain harmful bacteria. Including food waste can also attract pests and contaminate the compost produced.
Putting food waste in the garden bin can lead to contamination. If crews find unsuitable items, they may not empty your bin until the next scheduled collection, and you'll need to remove the incorrect items before it can be emptied again.
We are also preparing to roll out separate food waste collections in April 2026, as part of the government's simpler recycling initiative. This will allow residents to dispose of food waste in dedicated bins, reducing contamination and improving recycling efforts
By keeping food waste out of your brown garden bin, you're helping to ensure that the compost produced is safe and high-quality. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our recycling efforts effective and sustainable.