Garden waste collection service
About the service
You can have your garden waste collected by subscribing to our annual service. The subscription costs £40 per year.
This service is optional and not included in your Council Tax. It is similar to services offered by other councils in the Tees Valley and across the UK.
Garden waste collection dates
2026 collection period
- Tuesday 17 March to Friday 20 November
You'll receive fortnightly collections during this period. Collection calendars may vary slightly depending on your location.
What's included
Here's what you get as part of your subscription:
- one 240-litre brown wheelie bin for garden waste
- fortnightly collections during the collection period
- option to buy extra bins for £25 each per year
Subscription costs
| Number of bins | Total annual cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bin | £40 |
| 2 bins | £65 |
| 3 bins | £90 |
| 4 bins | £115 |
| 5 bins | £140 |
You can have up to five bins per household.
You must pay the full amount in one payment. We do not offer monthly instalments.
How to sign up or renew
You can subscribe at any time, quickly and easily. You can also pay on behalf of someone else. You will need their name and address.
Please make sure you don't accidentally subscribe twice.
What you will see if you have not subscribed for 2026
If your account shows a "Subscribe" button under Garden Waste Service, this means you have not yet subscribed for 2026. You should go ahead and complete your subscription.
What you will see if you have already subscribed for 2026
If your account shows your service start and end dates and gives you the option to "View Subscriptions", this means you are already subscribed for 2026. You do not need to take any further action and you should not try to subscribe again.
View our garden waste collection service terms and conditions.
Subscribe to the garden waste collection service
Bin delivery
Existing subscribers (renewals) will continue using their current brown bin.
For new subscribers: we will deliver your bin as soon as possible.
While waiting, you can:
- take garden waste to Haverton Hill Waste and Recycling Centre (booking required). You can book a slot for Haverton Hill Waste and Recycling Centre online.
- store waste in hessian sacks or liners. When the bin arrives, transfer the waste directly into it — plastic bags are not allowed inside the bins
If you have questions about your delivery, call 01642 391959.
Replacement bins
Replacement bins cost £25. More information is available on the report a lost, stolen or damaged bin page.
What you can put in the bin
- grass cuttings
- leaves
- weeds
- hedge trimmings
- small branches
- plants
What you can't put in the bin
- soil or rubble
- turf
- large branches
- cardboard or wood
- liquids
- food packaging
Do not use bags inside the bin. Bagged waste will not be collected.
Cancelling your subscription
Important: Your garden waste subscription will not automatically renew for 2026 collections. Your subscription ended automatically when the 2025 collections finished.
Complete the online form to cancel your garden waste subscription.
Cancel your garden waste subscription
Please note: From Tuesday 31 March 2026, household waste (green wheeled bin) collections will switch to fortnightly, meaning your waste bin capacity will be halved. Garden waste like grass clippings, leaves and branches can fill up your bin, leaving less room for everyday rubbish.
Assisted collections
If you already receive assisted collections, this will continue.
If you need help moving your bin, let us know. More information is available on the bin collection days and garden waste webpage.
Rural properties
If your home is in a rural area and uses a smaller collection vehicle, you can still subscribe. Call 01642 391959 to arrange.
If you don't subscribe
You can:
- compost at home - turn grass cuttings, leaves and other garden waste into useful compost for your garden
- take garden waste to Haverton Hill Waste and Recycling Centre - it's free, but you'll need to book a slot online first
- put garden waste in your household rubbish bin - though we'd advise against it. From Tuesday 31 March 2026, rubbish collections will switch to every two weeks, so garden waste will leave you with less room for everyday rubbish
Bin use rules
- only use the brown bin provided by the Council
- we will not collect waste in other containers
- we will not collect loose garden waste
- we will not collect waste in old green hessian or clear bags
What happens to your waste
Your garden waste is composted locally.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a bin from somewhere else?
No. We will only empty the bin that we provide as part of the subscription.
Is this covered by Council Tax?
No. Garden waste collection is not a legal requirement and is not included in Council Tax.
Will this cause more fly-tipping?
We do not expect an increase. Other councils with similar services have not seen more fly-tipping. We will monitor and investigate any reports.
How will you know I have subscribed to the service?
We will have an electronic record of which residents have subscribed, which will inform the garden waste collection crews of which households are subscribed to the service.
Can I report a missed collection?
Yes. You can report it online. Visit the report a missed collection page.
Does garden waste have to be put in clear bags before being put in the brown bin?
No. Garden waste should be placed straight into the brown bin without bags. Garden waste that is presented in bags and then placed in the brown bin will not be accepted as any bags will contaminate the load.
I haven't got space to store a bin, what am I expected to do?
We would encourage you to either home compost your garden waste or take it for free to Haverton Hill Household Waste Recycling Centre. You must book a time slot to visit Haverton Hill Household Waste Recycling Centre. Book a slot for Haverton Hill household recycling centre.
I don't want my brown bin anymore, what should I do?
You can keep your brown bin even if you unsubscribe from our garden waste collection service. Many people find creative ways to reuse their brown bin, such as:
- compost bin - use it for composting organic waste to enrich your garden soil
- outdoor storage - store toys, sports equipment, or gardening tools
- rain barrel or water butt - convert it into a rainwater collection bin to help reduce water waste.
And you may want to sign up to the service again at a later date - you can sign up anytime.
Don't forget from Tuesday 31 March 2026 household waste (green wheeled bin) collections will switch to fortnightly, meaning your waste bin capacity will be halved.
If you don't want to keep your bin, please contact our Care For Your Area team on 01642 391959.
