Collecting garden waste is not a statutory service under the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 and collections aren't covered by your council tax. Currently, more than 70% of councils charge for garden waste collections.
As it's no longer viable for us to collect garden waste at the kerbside for free, the subscription charge allows us to continue providing the much-valued service.
Find out about:
- Eligibility for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme
- How the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme works
- What you can put in your garden waste bin
- How much the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme costs; how to pay and cancel
- How to subscribe for garden waste collections
- What to do if you don't want to subscribe for garden waste collections
- What to do if your garden waste hasn't been collected (missed bins)
- What to do if St Nicks collect your garden waste
Get help with the subscription process.
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Eligibility for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme
Check whether garden waste is collected at your property, meaning you're eligible to subscribe, using the Waste Collection Calendar.
We'll aim to expand the garden waste service into new areas each year. This year we've introduced garden waste collections to new areas of York for the first time (around 200 properties).
If your property is eligible for garden waste subscriptions, when you enter your address the Waste Collection Calendar will show 'Garden waste collection' information, alongside household waste and recycling collection details (there will be 3 boxes of information).
If garden waste collection information is visible, but says: 'Next collection: not applicable; no subscription', this means you're not subscribed; find out how to subscribe for garden waste collections if you want us to empty your green bins at the kerbside.
Garden waste will be collected every 2 weeks during the collection season, and will take place in the same weeks as your recycling collections.
Full details of collection dates will not be visible in the Waste Collection Calendar until after you have subscribed. If you've recently subscribed, please allow up to 24 hours for the Waste Collection Calendar to update with your 'next collection' information.
Properties not eligible at this time
If your property is not currently eligible for garden waste subscriptions, when you enter your address into the Waste Collection Calendar only household waste and recycling collection details will appear (2 boxes of information). Unfortunately, you will not be able to subscribe for garden waste collections at this time.
Future eligibility for garden waste collections
We'll aim to expand the garden waste service into new areas each year.
Currently, there are around 5,500 properties included in our Bags to Bins scheme, meaning they may be eligible for a garden waste collection in the future. We're sending letters to those properties, inviting them to let us know about interest in getting a garden waste collection; the information gathered will help us to assess whether it would be possible to extend the garden waste service in those areas.
How the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme works
Our garden waste season runs for 40 weeks per year, between early March and early December.
The Garden Waste Subscription Scheme is an opt-in service; if you want us to collect your garden waste at the kerbside, you need to subscribe and pay per bin, per season.
When you've subscribed:
- we'll post a welcome pack to you; allow 10 working days for delivery
- your welcome pack will contain a sticker to attach to your garden waste bin (green wheelie bin)
- put the sticker on the back of your bin (handle side) as soon as you get it
- the sticker includes the collection address and reference number, which helps our Waste Team easily identify bins, alongside their 'in-cab' information
- bins with stickers will be emptied every 2 weeks of the season, in the same weeks as your recycling collections; once subscribed you'll be able to check which dates using our waste collection calendar
- make sure you know which items are suitable for your garden waste bin
- position your garden waste bin at the front edge of your property (or agreed collection point stated in the waste collection calendar) between 7.00pm on the day before collection, and 7.00am on your collection day; do not put your garden waste out at any other time
- make sure the sticker is clearly visible
- if you've previously requested an assisted waste collection, this service will continue
Garden Waste Subscription Scheme stickers are valid only for the address shown. Stickers cannot be transferred. If you move house you'll need to subscribe and pay at the new property.
Your sticker is valid for 1 collection season (until the end of the collection season during which you apply); we'll contact you about renewing your subscription ahead of the new season.
If your property is rented, you or your landlord can subscribe to garden waste collections; you need to agree the arrangements between yourselves.
If your sticker is lost or you need replacement green bins, you'll need to contact Waste Services to process your order by telephone.
What you can put in your green garden waste bin
You can put garden and plant waste into your green wheelie bin, including:
- grass cuttings and hedge clippings
- leaves and bark
- garden plants and flowers
- non-invasive garden weeds
- twigs and small branches
- windfall fruit
- cut flowers, house plants, dried flowers
- Christmas trees and natural wreaths - chopped up so they fit inside your bin
Please shake soil or compost off plant roots before putting them in your green bin.
Unsuitable materials for garden waste collections
Some items are not suitable for garden waste collections at the kerbside, including some which are suitable for home composting.
We will not empty your green bin if it contains:
- soil, turf, rubble, coal, barbeque charcoal
- large whole branches - these can be taken to a household waste recycling centre and placed in the wood recycling container
- invasive weeds such as Japanese knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Ragwort - seek advice on safe disposal from the Environment Agency
- food or other kitchen waste
- plastic, paper, cardboard and other packaging, such as compostable plastic and bags
- pet and animal waste from cats and dogs
- straw bedding from vegetarian pets, such as rabbits
- Christmas decorations
- nappies
- heavily compacted or frozen materials
Find out what to do if your garden waste hasn't been collected (missed bins).
Cost of the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme
The Garden Waste Subscription Scheme costs for the 2025 season is £49.00.
You're entitled to a 50% discount on 1 bin sticker if you're receiving Council Tax Support, or someone in your household receives a Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) council tax exemption, making the 2025 pro rata cost £24.50.
You’re not eligible for a garden waste subscription scheme discount if you receive other council tax related discounts, as shown in our table. If you’re unsure about your eligibility telephone: 01904 551551.
| Example council tax related discounts | Eligible for a GWSS discount or not |
|---|---|
| Council Tax Support | Yes |
| Severe Mental Impairment (SMI) council tax exemption | Yes |
| Single Person Discount | No |
| Student Discount | No |
| Discretionary Council Tax Reduction | No |
| Second Adult Rebate | No |
| Council tax discount for Disabled people (Disability related Banding reduction) | No |
| Council tax exemptions for people in care/providing care | No |
We’ll use council tax records to confirm your eligibility for a garden waste subscription scheme discount; you’re committing fraud if you claim a discount you aren’t entitled to - your garden waste collections will be affected even if you’ve received stickers.
Paying for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme
You can subscribe for garden waste collections any time of the year. However, the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme cost is per collection season; to make full use of the scheme we encourage you to subscribe as early as possible.
Online card payment is part of the subscription process; we're unable to accept payments for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme by direct debit or cash. If you're unable to subscribe online, contact Waste Services to complete your subscription and payment by telephone (you'll need to have your payment card details ready).
Cancelling your garden waste subscription
You have a right to cancel the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme within 14 days of paying, without giving a reason, and you'll be entitled to a full refund. If you cancel after 14 days you will not be entitled to a refund.
Contact Waste Services by telephone about subscription cancellations.
If you cancel you must either return the bin stickers, or ensure they have been removed from your garden waste bin and destroyed. We'll advise what to do with any garden waste bins supplied as part of your cancelled subscription.
Sharing a garden waste bin
If you're eligible for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme but think 1 garden bin can meet the needs of you and your neighbour, you can share a bin.
Any agreement made between neighbours to share a garden waste bin is a private arrangement. You'll need to decide between neighbours who subscribes; their address will be used for collections and will appear on the sticker.
The person who subscribes will be responsible for compliance with the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme Terms and Conditions, even if they share the garden bin with neighbours; this is because our agreement is with that person.
How to subscribe for garden waste collections
Use our online form to subscribe and pay for your garden waste to be collected at the kerbside.
Please read the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme Terms and Conditions and Garden Waste Subscription Scheme Privacy Notice.
Get help with the subscription process.
You may seek help from friends or relatives if you need support completing the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme online form.
If you're unable to subscribe online, contact Waste Services to complete your subscription and payment by telephone (you'll need to have your payment card details ready; we don't accept cash or direct debit payments for this service).
If you don't subscribe for garden waste collections
If you don't want to use the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme and choose not to subscribe there are other ways to manage your garden waste:
- composting at home - subsidised compost bins are available to buy from Hazel Court or Towthorpe and Strensall household waste recycling centres
- take your garden waste to a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) - you can dispose of garden waste, free of charge, at Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe and Strensall HWRC
If you don't want to use the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme please keep your green wheelie bin. You may change your mind and want us to collect your garden waste in the future, or you may be able to use the bin for other purposes, such as storage.
We'll organise a one-off collection of unwanted green wheelie bins in late 2025, and will confirm details of this collection at the end of the 2025 season.
Missed garden waste collections
If you've subscribed to our scheme but your bin has not been emptied during your scheduled garden waste collection, first check:
- you put your green bin out, at the correct location, by 7.00am on your scheduled collection day
- your bin does not contain inappropriate, compacted, frozen or heavy materials (see: what you can put in your garden waste bin)
- the bin lid is fully closed
In these circumstances, please report a missed waste collection.
Garden bins we cannot collect
You cannot report a missed bin if your garden waste wasn't collected because:
- your bin wasn't at the correct location by 7.00am on your scheduled collection day
- your bin contained inappropriate materials (known as contamination)
- your bin contained heavily compacted or frozen materials
- the bin was too heavy for our Waste Team to move safely
- the bin lid was not fully closed
In these circumstances, we will not return ahead of schedule. You'll need to present your garden waste correctly for the next collection, or take your garden waste to Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe and Strensall HWRC.
Where 'contamination' continues, we reserve the right to cancel your subscription.
Refunds will not be issued for any missed collections.
Garden waste collections by St Nicks
If you live in the city centre area where your recycling and garden waste is collected by St Nicks you're not eligible for our Garden Waste Subscription Scheme.
Contact St Nicks directly for details of:
- what waste they collect
- how and when to present waste for collection
