Residents across Britain are facing a wide disparity in the cost of garden waste collection services, according to an analysis of council data. A "postcode lottery" means that individuals in some areas pay substantially more than those elsewhere for the disposal of their green waste.
Research by private waste collection firm Divert Waste identified three council districts in southern England as having the highest annual charges. In the Waverley council area of Surrey, residents pay £136.70 for fortnightly collections. A spokesperson for Waverley Council stated that the annual charge for the service is £87.60, with the additional £49.10 cost incurred only in years when a new garden waste bin needs to be purchased.
East Hampshire followed with an annual subscription of £130, and Kingston upon Thames at £104. Kingston Council explained that purchasing a garden waste bin costs £24, plus a £20 administrative fee. Additional bins incur a £10 fee each.
Other councils with substantial annual garden waste collection subscriptions include Barnet at £103.80 and Brighton and Hove at £102. Residents in the Isle of Wight also pay £102 for their annual service. In Lewisham and Enfield in London, annual subscription costs also exceed £100. In Birmingham, garden waste collections are currently suspended due to strike action.
Divert Waste's analysis, which examined data from 328 councils, found that residents in London and the South East of England are charged the highest amounts. The South East has the highest average garden waste collection cost at £72.14, followed by London at £68.09, and the South West of England at £66.78.
Some councils charge per bag of waste rather than offering an annual subscription. Ceredigion County Council in Wales had the lowest listed charge at £2.30 per bag for fortnightly collections, while Caerphilly County Borough Council charged £4.10 per sack.
Bury Borough Council in England reported the lowest annual-style charge at £17.50, a price intended to encourage recycling. The Yorkshire and the Humber region had an average charge of £29.84, below the national average. Northern Ireland recorded the lowest average collection cost at £5.34, primarily because many of its councils include garden waste disposal as part of existing kerbside collection services.
According to Divert's findings, 46 councils offer some form of free garden waste service, though the specifics vary. These free services may be limited by container type, collection frequency, property type, or if garden waste is integrated into broader kerbside recycling.
Residents under Doncaster Council receive free garden waste collection unless they require more than one bin, with an additional bin costing £47.50 annually. Hull City Council provides free collections even if an additional bin is needed. Councils in the South West and North East of England, however, did not offer any free services, the analysis indicated.
John Verity, managing director at Divert, commented that garden waste collection charges have created a significant "postcode lottery" across the UK. He advised households to check their council's terms, especially during summer months when garden use increases.
Verity also suggested that for smaller amounts of garden waste, home composting, sharing a bin with a neighbor where permitted, or using a local household recycling center might be more cost-effective. He emphasized that waste generated from business activities, property clearances, landlord maintenance, or commercial gardeners should not be placed in domestic garden waste collections and requires a licensed waste carrier.
Since March 1, councils in England have been mandated to provide separate collections for food and garden waste, paper and card, other dry recyclable materials (including glass, metal, plastic, and cartons), and non-recyclable waste. These requirements apply to all households, including those in flats and communal properties, and are intended to boost recycling rates and reduce regional disparities in collection services.