Garden waste collection information

The Garden Waste Collection Service is a convenient way for all residents in West Suffolk to dispose of their garden waste.

It is a paid for annual subscription which runs from 1 June to 31 May the following year. The cost of the service for 2025-2026 is £53 per bin. We do not offer refunds for cancelling early or a discounted price for late sign up.

Brand new subscribers to the service and those people renewing their existing subscription by credit or debit card need to sign up at least two full working days before your collection is due to give us time to process your application. You can have up to four garden waste bin subscriptions (four bins) for each property.

When you have signed up, we will send you a receipt and service confirmation separately by email.

Please make sure you read and agree the Garden Waste Collection Service terms and conditions and privacy notice.

We will contact customers at the end of the subscription period to remind them when the next payment is due.

In order for your bin to be collected, you need to:

make sure your bin has your house name or number clearly displayed on it. If the bin collection point is on a different street, the street name also needs to be included.
make sure your bin is at its usual collection point by 6.15am, with the lid closed, on your collection day. This is the same location as your black and blue bins are collected from.
We are unable to take side waste. If you have more waste that will not fit into your bin, please keep hold of it until your next collection.
Tell us if you move house within the West Suffolk Council area, so we can start collections at your new property. Remember to take your brown bin with you when you move.

Check when your bin is emptied

Bins are collected alternate weeks. In some areas, garden waste is collected on a different day to your other waste - Check when your bins are emptied by using our Find my nearest service.

What you can't put in your garden waste bin

bagged waste
cardboard, newspaper, shredded paper
- shredded paper can be home composted or placed in an envelope or paper bag and recycled in a paper bank - Find my nearest
- cardboard and newspaper can go in your blue recycling bin
invasive weeds such as Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed
kitchen waste, food and plate scrapings
soil, stones or rubble
pet or animal waste and bedding
sawdust contaminated with pet waste
plant pots, trays, plastic bags, plastic ties
tea bags and coffee grounds
treated wood

What you can put in your garden waste bin

dead plants and flowers
grass, leaves and weeds (excluding controlled weeds such as Giant Hogweed or Japanese Knotweed)
hedge clippings
prunings and twigs
clean sawdust (not containing pet waste)
small branches (less than 6cm thick)
vegetable waste from the garden (not kitchen waste)

You can also take your garden waste to Suffolk County Council's recycling centres for recycling, free of charge.

Going one step further with recycling

Do not burn your garden waste - it can cause pollution and can also be unpleasant for your neighbours.
Visit Suffolk Recycles - Food waste for information on reducing your food waste
Find out about Home composting
You can also take your garden waste to one of Suffolk County Council's recycling centres for recycling, free of charge. You must book a time slot online to deposit waste at your local recycling centre.

What happens if you put the wrong waste in the bin

Bins that are contaminated (that is, they contain incorrect materials) will not be collected. The council will advise you of the problem. If bins are contaminated it is your responsibility to remove the contamination from the bin prior to their next scheduled collection. No extra collections will be offered.

What happens if we do not empty your bin

There may be times when we are unable to empty your bin. If this happens the collection crew will place a sticker on your bin to indicate why it has not been emptied. You will be required to resolve the problem so that we can empty your bin on your next collection day. For more information visit My bin hasn't been emptied.

We will not empty your bin if it is too heavy. Please make sure that your bin is easily moveable by our collection crews. They will be collecting up to 1,000 bins per day so your bin should be easy to wheel from the kerb to the rear of the refuse truck. If the bin has not been collected, the refuse crew will leave a notice on the bin to advise you of the problem.

Bins must be left in the agreed location. Bins not presented kerbside or at the agreed bin location will be marked as 'not out' and not emptied. If there is an issue with the location, please contact customer services to discuss.
Garden waste bins not marked with the house number or name and street name will not be emptied.

Your garden waste bin will not be emptied if you do not have a subscription to the 2025-26 year of service.

Where your garden waste goes

Your garden waste is collected and taken to one of four composting facilities in the district. Find out more at Suffolk recycles - Where does my garden waste go?

How to subscribe

Sign up online on our Garden Waste Collection Service webpage. by selecting the relevant sign up form. You can set up a subscription once by choosing direct debit and we will renew your subscription annually until you cancel the service, meaning you will never miss a collection. Or you can pay for a single year by choosing debit or credit card payment - you must remember to renew annually before for deadline for a continued service.

Subscriptions for the next year start on 1 June 2025,, the online forms will open in April. Our online forms are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are an easy way to sign up to the service.

Brand new subscribers to the service and those people renewing their existing subscription by debit or credit card need to sign up at least two full working days before your collection is due to give us time to process your application. You can do this online on our Garden Waste Collection Service webpage.

We will not empty your brown bin if you have not subscribed to the service. It is a paid for service with an annual subscription which runs from 1 June to 31 May the following year.

You can have up to four garden waste bin subscriptions (four bins) for each property.

When you have signed up, we will send you a receipt and service confirmation separately by email.

Please make sure you and agree the Garden Waste Collection Service Terms and conditions and Privacy Notice 2025-26.

If you pay by direct debit

Payments are taken annually on the 1 June (or first working day after that). If you sign up after 1 June, your payment will be taken on the first working day of the following month.
All annual payments, regardless of when they were first requested will be renewed the following year on the first working day of June.
You will be sent a reminder email each year confirming the annual subscription amount and the day the direct debit payment will be collected.
We will contact you in advance of any price changes made (no less than ten days in advance of the direct debit collection date by email). It is your decision if you wish to continue with the service. Please note, you can cancel your direct debit at any time.
If your direct debit has failed, we will be notified by your bank and will cancel your service. If you wish for your service to start again you will need to contact us and make another payment.
You can change your direct debit details using the Garden Waste – change to existing direct debit form.
You can cancel at any time either by cancelling your direct debit direct with your bank, or you can use the Garden Waste Subscription Cancellation form
If the payment for the year has already been taken, your service will continue to be provided until the end of May, unless you tell us you have moved house. There are no partial or pro-rota refunds available. If you wish for the service to continue the following year you will need to contact us and make another payment.
If the payment for the year has not yet been taken, the collection service will be cancelled immediately. If you wish for your service to start again you will need to contact us and make another payment.

Renewing your annual subscription

If you sign up by direct debit you will not have to renew your subscription next year, we will contact you in advance to let you know when your annual payment will be taken. If you need to alter your bank details, please use our Garden Waste - change to existing direct debit form.
If you sign up by credit or debit card we will contact you to remind you when your service is due to be renewed.
If you pay by card and not by direct debit, payment of the annual fee is required by 27 May 2024 in order for the service to continue for the 2024-2025 subscription year. If payment is not received by the due date we will assume that you no longer require the service and your bin will not be emptied.

Moving house

If you are moving house within the West Suffolk district, you can take your garden waste (brown) bin with you. Please call our customer services team on 01284 776119 so we can update your subscription and start collections at your new property.
If you are moving out of the West Suffolk district, please complete the Garden Waste Subscription Cancellation form and email it to customer.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk.
Please note, it is your responsibility to notify both the Council Tax and Waste departments. As Council Tax is dealt with by Anglia Revenues Partnership they do not notify the waste department on your behalf. If we are not notified, the subscription will remain in place and you will be charged the subscription fee. We are unable to provide full or partial subscription refunds.

Cancelling the service

No refunds or part refunds will be given if the service is no longer required.

If you paid by direct debit, please cancel with your bank or building society or by completing the Garden Waste Subscription Cancellation form and emailing it to customer.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk
If you paid by debit or credit card please complete the Garden Waste Subscription Cancellation form and email it to customer.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk so we can cancel your subscription.

No refunds or part refunds will be given if the service is no longer required. For further information see Garden Waste Collection Service Terms and conditions and Privacy Notice information