Garden waste frequently asked questions

How do I sign up for garden waste collections?

It just takes a few minutes to sign up online and costs £65 for a subscription for one green bin, and £56.48 for each additional bin after that.

That works out to as little as £2.70 per collection.

Sign up for a garden waste subscription

What if I cannot sign up online?

You can call 01227 868 556 to sign up and pay another way.

I get purple sacks and don't have a black bin - can I still sign up?

Unfortunately properties on the purple sack list cannot subscribe to garden waste collections.

My property has communal bins - can I still sign up?

Unfortunately properties with communal bins cannot subscribe to garden waste collections.

Can I pay by Direct Debit?

No. You need to pay by credit or debit card each year you sign up.

How do I get a new green bin?

You must have a green bin before you sign up for a subscription. You won't be given a bin as part of the service. You can only use a bin purchased from us.

If you don't have one you can buy a green bin. 

The cost of a green bin has been cut from £71.38 to £42.64 each. This is a saving of 40% compared to last year's price. The new price will apply until February 2027.

What can I put in my green bin?

You can check what does and does not go in your green bin online.

Can I add more bins to my subscription?

Yes, you can manage your garden waste subscription to add more bins.

When will my green bin be collected?

You can check your collection dates online.

Your bins will be collected on this day every two weeks from 30 March 2026 until 18 December 2026, and then from 18 January 2027 to 26 March 2027.

If you sign up part way through the subscription year, your collections will still end the week of 27 March 2027.

Your green bin must be clearly visible and accessible at the boundary of your property before 6am on collection day.

How will the crews know to collect my bin?

Crews will use in-cab technology to track garden waste subscriptions. To help us identify your bin, please label it with your house number or name. You can do this with a numbered sticker or write it on the bin with paint or a permanent marker.

This also helps us if your bin is misplaced.

What should I do if my bin is not collected?

You must report a missed green bin to us no later than midnight the next day. So for example, if your collection is a Tuesday you must report it by midnight on Wednesday.

If you don't report it within these times, we won't come back to collect it and you'll have to wait until your next scheduled collection.

What happens if I move house?

If you move house, you need to change your garden waste subscription address.