Last updated:
4th December 2025
Garden waste
Garden waste includes garden clippings, grass cuttings, leaves and weeds. When collected, these green materials are sent to a composting facility, where they are processed and turned into high-quality, peat-free compost for growing other plants.
How your garden waste can be disposed of
Garden waste can be:
- Composted at home, find out more from the Get Composting website
- Taken to the household waste and recycling centres
- Collected from your home on an optional, paid-for basis on your fortnightly garden waste collection day
- Collected in compostable brown sacks which you can buy to dispose of garden waste on your fortnightly garden waste collection day
What goes in your garden waste bin or bag
| Yes please | No, thank you |
|---|---|
| Grass cuttings and leaves | Animal waste |
| Hedge clippings | General waste |
| Flowers and weeds | Food and kitchen waste |
| Small branches | Large branches |
| Pet or animal bedding | |
| Soil and stones | |
| Japanese Knotweed | |
| Treated wood | |
| Plant pots |
Adverse circumstances: cold weather & frozen waste
During cold spells, garden waste may freeze and prevent us from fully emptying your bin. It may not be possible to fully empty your bin until future scheduled collections when temperatures have risen.
Why this happens
When green waste contains moisture, it can freeze and expand, causing the contents to become wedged inside the bin. Using excessive force to dislodge frozen waste can risk damaging the bins.
How to reduce the likelihood of freezing:
• Avoid compacting garden waste in your bin
• Loosen the contents before presenting the bin for collection
• Store bins in a sheltered location, against a wall, or indoors (garage or shed) where possible
