Garden waste collection service

A chargeable fortnightly garden waste collection service runs from February to the end of November .

Recycle bark, cut flowers, grass cuttings, hedge clippings, house plants, leaves, shrub prunings, twigs and small branches, untreated sawdust and wood shavings, and weeds.

Bookings for 2025 are now open - collections will start in February 2025

Pay garden waste subscription 2025

A garden waste licence costs £56.50 and is valid February - November inclusive.

Please note: Actual collection dates vary slightly by location. Please visit My House to check collection dates.

You can recycle the following:

Bark
Cut flowers
Grass Cuttings
Hedge Clippings
House Plants
Leaves
Shrub pruning's
Twigs and small branches
Untreated sawdust and wood shavings
Weeds

Garden waste is collected fortnightly from February to the end of November.

Please note: Actual collection dates vary slightly by location. Please visit My House to check collection dates.

When you purchase a 180 litre garden waste wheeled bin. We will no longer post licences to subscribers. Collection staff will have live booking information stored on in-cab technology.

Bin tags will be applied by operatives once collections begin in February. These tags aren’t mandatory and will be used as a visual aid for collection staff only, so do not worry if you have paid and your bin hasn’t been tagged, collections will still be made.

Your bin will arrive before the scheme starts at the end of January, or within 10 working days if ordered once the scheme commences.

Only garden waste contained within the Council issued bin will be collected from the kerbside. You may subscribe to more than one bin at an additional cost.

Please ensure you present your garden waste by 6.00 am on the day of collection. If your Garden Waste Bin has not been collected on your day scheduled, please report it to the Council and we will aim to return and collect within 48 hours but it may take up to 5 working days.

Please remember that garden waste must not be put in the household waste bin.

Wheeled bin subscriptions are due for renewal in February each year and we will contact you beforehand.

If you move house within the Stroud District and still require the service please tell us your new address and take the garden waste bin with you.

Please take care of your bin because if it is lost or stolen we will not replace it. You will be required to purchase another bin to continue the service so it is suggested you may want to mark it to indicate it belongs to you/your property.

Please take time to read these terms and conditions as they form part of our agreement with you.

The garden waste collections are fortnightly from the beginning of February to the end of November each year
No refunds will be issued. We will no longer post licences to subscribers. Collection staff will have live booking information stored on in-cab technology. Bin tags will be applied by operatives once collections commence. These tags aren’t mandatory and will be used as a visual aid for collection staff only, so do not worry if you have paid and your bin hasn’t been tagged, collections will still be made
For new subscriptions your bin will be delivered before the end of January, or within 10 working days if ordered once the scheme commences
The Council will provide one or more garden waste wheeled bin/s at a charge as required
The brown bins become the property of the resident. The Council will not replace the bin free of charge if it is lost or stolen; this will be the responsibility of the customer
The bin will need to be presented before 6 am on collection day, which may be a different day to other waste collections. You will be advised of your collection day in your booking confirmation.
Only garden waste listed in the policy may be disposed of through this service
All garden waste must be contained within the bin/s provided by the Council. Any garden waste not contained in a Stroud District Council brown bin will not be collected. Please ensure the bin lid is completely shut when presenting your bin for the collectors
The Council reserves the right to refuse to collect overweight bins for health and safety reasons
Should your collection be missed due to contractor failure, please report it to the Council and we will aim to return and collect within 48 hours but it may take up to 5 working days
The Council reserves the right to suspend the collection of garden waste in cases of severe weather. On such an occasion the Council will make its best endeavours to collect the garden waste at the next earliest opportunity which may be your next scheduled collection day. The council will not reimburse customers in these instances

Cancellations and queries

If you have a query or decide that you no longer wish to subscribe to the service, please contact us. Please note no refunds will be issued.

Home composting requires hardly any effort and is suitable for everyone. All you need is a composting bin and plenty of kitchen or garden waste.

Why compost?

The average household bin contains 43% of organic material which could be composted. This includes items such as eggshells, tea bags, fruit and vegetable peelings. This rots in landfill sites fairly quickly, but when buried like this, it produces methane which contributes significantly to global warming. These materials can be easily composted either in a traditional compost heap or a special bin. In addition to this, grass cuttings, leaves, pruning and small plant clippings can also be composted. Composting is an excellent way of reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Compost helps your garden and minimises the need for chemical fertilisers that can harm the environment and are costly to buy. Homemade compost is equally as good and is absolutely FREE. By composting you also cut down on the need to buy peat based products. Most commercial compost comes from peat bogs - these provide natural habitats for rare plants and animals and are almost extinct.

How do I start composting at home?

Collect your kitchen waste (use an old plastic container in the kitchen) and garden waste and use one of the three ways to compost at home:

Pile it into a heap in an allocated part of the garden (on bare soil), cover with something waterproof and let nature do the rest
Buy or build a compost bin/heap

You can make your own compost bin from wood (old pallets are useful), wooden posts and wire mesh lined with thick cardboard or old carpet. Cover it with carpet, a wooden lid of black plastic to keep the rain out and heat in - this will help quicken the rotting process.

Alternatively, Gloucestershire County Council have a deal with Get Composting. To view the range of bins and accessories visit the website.