Garden waste collection terms and conditions

• If you subscribe before 28 February each year, you will receive all 17 scheduled collections between March and November.
• You can subscribe at any time during the year, but the full annual charge will still be payable. If you sign up for the service part way through the year you will only receive the remaining number of the 17 scheduled collections of this service.
• If you choose to pay for the service part way through the year this does not entitle you to carry over the service to the following year. Any application is valid from March to November for the year regardless of the time that you apply to join the scheme.The price is a fixed charge regardless of when you subscribe.
• If you do not wish to sign up for the new garden waste service, your garden waste bin will not be emptied.
• There are no concessions available.
• The price is £38.50 (2025 fee) per year to have each bin emptied, up to a maximum of four bins.
• You have the right to cancel your subscription within 14 days of subscribing, provided you have not received any collections. If a collection has been made or 14 days has expired, no refund will be offered.
• If you lose or damage your garden waste bin(s) and require a replacement, you can request a bin by by completing the online form or by calling us on 0191 520 5550.
• If you have been eligible to receive the garden waste service in the past, you can expect to be eligible to subscribe again. If you were not eligible in the past, it may be that your property is either too remote or it cannot be accessed by our collection vehicles. Due to these reasons each case will be considered by a Refuse Manager.
• The maximum number of bins we are willing to empty from a single property is four. You must leave the bin at the kerbside with the handle facing the road, as normal, so it is easier for the crews to see the sticker if it is beneath the handle. Please take in your bin as soon as possible after it has been emptied.
• We cannot guarantee that your collection day will be the same as your current day. If your collection day changes, we will inform you directly. You can check when your collection day is
• All bins are of standard size. If you consider one bin is not sufficient you are able to order additional bins at a cost.
• No additional garden waste left at the side of your bins will be taken.
• If you qualify for an Assisted Collection Service nothing changes in this regard. You will continue to receive help with bringing your bin to the kerbside and having it returned on your property if you subscribe.
• The subscription is for the property only and the garden waste collection service is not transferable. The payment made is not refundable if you move to a new house after payment. If you move into a property where the previous occupier has subscribed for the service, then the service will continue to be provided until the end of the current year.
• Do not place garden waste in plastic bags. Place it as it is directly in the bin. We strongly recommend that you do not compact materials in the bin as they will not tip out during the automated emptying process.
• You must not overfill your residual green waste bin with garden waste or put out any additional garden waste at the side of your bins. Overloaded or heavy rubbish/recycling bins will not be emptied.
• We do not collect soil as this service is for composting only. Putting soil in the bin is likely to put the weight of the bin over the lifting limit of the vehicle.
• There are no refunds if you miss a collections due to your bin not being presented at the kerbside in time. However, if it has been missed due to a reason which is our fault, we will come back as soon as we can to empty your bin - please leave your bin out and we will return to empty it.

Contamination

• Do NOT put the following items in your brown garden bin (as they contaminate the compostable items):
  • food waste including meat, fish, fruit, salad and vegetables
  • plastic or plastic packaging
  • any packaging
  • vegetable peelings and egg shells
  • tea bags or coffee grinds
  • large items of garden waste, for example tree trunks
  • soil and rubble
• We will not empty a contaminated bin. The householder must remove the contamination and present the bin for the next scheduled collection. A return will not be made where the bin could not be collected due to contamination.