Garden Waste
Garden Waste FAQs
Find answers to common questions about the garden waste collection service, from subscribing and collections to bin use and moving house.
How much does the garden waste service cost?
The subscription charge is £41 per bin per year, payable in advance.
This is a fixed, non-refundable cost covering July to the following June.
There are no discounts available.
How often is garden waste collected?
Garden waste is collected fortnightly.
Collections take place on the same day as your recycling collection.
If you live in a rural zone, your green bin is emptied on the same day as your refuse collection.
Are garden waste collections available all year?
No. Garden waste is not collected in December, January or February.
Collections restart in March.
What happens after I subscribe?
Once you’ve paid:
- We’ll send you a bin sticker by post (please allow up to two weeks)
- Stick the sticker on your bin as soon as it arrives
- Do not photocopy the sticker – this is considered fraudulent
We keep an electronic record of your subscription in case your sticker is damaged or your bin is lost or stolen.
If you don’t already have one, we’ll also provide a green bin for your garden waste.
What if my sticker is lost, stolen, damaged or doesn’t arrive?
- You can report any issues to us using this form.
What do I need to do on collection day?
On collection day:
- Place your green bin at the front edge of your property, nearest the kerb
- Put it out no later than 7.30am
Only garden waste should be placed in the bin.
Bins containing other materials will not be emptied.
What can I put in my green bin?
You can put the following garden waste in your green bin:
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge clippings
- Tree loppings
- Twigs, bark and leaves
- Flowers and plants
- Small branches
- Fallen fruit
- Straw, hay and shavings
- Rabbit bedding
What can’t I put in my green bin?
Do not put the following in your green bin:
- Household rubbish
- Food or kitchen waste
- Cardboard or paper
- Plastic
- Black bags
- Logs or thick branches
- Soil or rubble
- Flowerpots
- Ragwort
- Items such as logs, thick branches, soil, rubble and flowerpots should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, or you can request a Bulky Waste Collection (charges may apply).
What happens if my bin contains the wrong items?
Bins contaminated with unacceptable materials (such as plastic bags or plant pots) will not be emptied.
If this happens, we’ll let you know.
You’ll need to remove the items and put the bin out again for the next scheduled collection.
How should I dispose of ragwort?
Small amounts of ragwort can be:
- Composted in a home compost bin, or
- Double-wrapped and placed in your grey refuse bin
- Further guidance is available on Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs website.
What if I don’t want to subscribe?
The service is entirely optional.
If you don’t subscribe, you’ll need to make your own arrangements, such as:
- Home composting, or
- Taking garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre
What if I don’t subscribe and want the green bin removed?
- You can request removal by completing this bin removal request form.
What happens if I move house?
You must leave the green bin at the property you subscribed for.
If you move to another address in Pendle:
- If the new property already has an active subscription, you don’t need to do anything
- If you want to join the service at your new address, you’ll need to take out a new subscription (if eligible)
Can I cancel my subscription?
You have seven working days from receiving the Terms and Conditions to cancel.
After this:
- No refunds or part refunds are given
- If the service or bin is misused, the subscription may be cancelled without a refund
If you decide to cancel, you can email waste.services@pendle.gov.uk or write to Operational Services, Fleet Street Depot, Nelson BB9 7YQ. You cannot cancel by phone.
Do I get a refund if my bin isn’t collected?
No refunds are given for missed collections.
If your bin hasn’t been emptied, it may be because:
- It contains the wrong items, or
- It is too heavy to be safely handled
If severe weather affects collections, we’ll try to return when conditions improve.
If your bin was missed unexpectedly, please report it within one working day and we aim to return within one working day, weather permitting.
What should I do with my Christmas tree?
Real Christmas trees (with decorations removed) can be recycled at:
If you don’t want to recycle it, you can put it out with your grey bin on your normal collection day.