We're asking residents with gardens, who currently throw out their garden waste with their rubbish, to subscribe to our garden waste collection service. This ensures that we recycle as much garden waste as possible.
Weekly collections
For subscribers, garden waste sacks are collected weekly on the same day as your food waste collection, with a short seasonal break during Christmas. This means you receive up to 49 collections per year.
Costs
The annual cost of the service is £90, which covers collection of two 90 litre reusable sacks (which the council will provide) and you can apply for up to 4 subscriptions per property which is a total of 8 sacks.
You can sign up from today but your subscription will not begin until the date of your first collection, and your subscription will run for 12 months from that date.
Payment will be requested as part of the application process.
What happens once I sign up?
Once you have subscribed your garden waste sacks will be delivered as soon as possible but it may take up to 10 days.
What can I put in the sacks?
Start filling your bags with a wide range of organic waste.
Our separate garden waste collection crew will then collect your brown garden waste sacks on the same day of the week that your food waste is collected. Just place your sacks as close to your property entrance as possible, while still within your property's footprint but not on the footpath. Our crew will leave the emptied bags for you to use again.
Your subscription begins on the day of your first scheduled collection and you'll need to renew your subscription each year to continue the service.
How do I apply?
You can subscribe for this service online by clicking on this link.
Subscribe to garden waste collection
Terms and conditions
For information about your rights and responsibilities and the terms of subscription please read the subscription terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Why are we collecting garden waste separately?
By collecting garden waste separately, it can be sent for more ecologically responsible reprocessing and helps us recycle more.
Your garden will be taken to a compost facility where it will be turned into high-quality compost to help grow flowers, plants and crops. When garden waste is disposed of in black bags or wheeled bins it is sent for incineration.
Where do you take the garden waste?
Garden waste is taken to Smuggler's Way in Wandsworth and then transferred to the compost facility run by EnVAR for winrow composting.
Residents can still take their garden waste to Smuggler's Way free of charge if they prefer.
What if I move home?
If you move home within the borough, please let us know so we can transfer your subscription to your new property and cancel the collections from your current address.
If you move outside Hammersmith & Fulham, please let us know so we can cancel the service and arrange for the collection and return of the sacks. Please note that refunds will not be issued for any remaining subscription period.
Can I put my garden waste in my wheelie bin?
Garden waste should not be placed in the wheelie bin or black sacks. Residents must use the garden waste collection service for any green waste produced. Please do not place garden waste in the wheeled bin or black bags as this may result in your domestic waste not being collected.
Leaves from a street tree drop in my garden, do I still need a subscription?
If you have a garden, residents are expected to compost or dispose of leaves that fall from street trees as it's likely there will already be garden waste to dispose of.
However, if a garden subscription is unsuitable, then there are alternatives such as:
Why do I need to pay for garden waste collections?
Garden waste collection services come with a fee to contribute towards the additional costs of the service, whilst ensuring that only those who need the service pay for it.
Additionally, charging for garden waste collections can encourage residents to consider environmentally friendly practices like home composting, which is a sustainable (and free!) alternative to disposing of garden waste.
Is there an alternative to the paid for service?
Now that we no longer collect garden waste with your rubbish, here's how you can recycle it:
- sign up to the new garden waste recycling service
- take your garden waste to your local recycling centre
- compost your garden waste at home.
Can we book a bulky collection instead?
Yes, but it won't be composted.
A bulky collection is ideal for those items we can't take like large branches and animal bedding or for more garden waste than your subscription service would cover.
What happens when my subscription service finishes?
We'll send you a text or email reminder when it's time to renew if we have your valid contact details.
What happens if my collection is missed?
Please let us know if your collection is missed.