Changes to Garden Waste collection days
We’re updating collection days for most of our garden waste subscribers.
Since we first started our garden waste subscription service we’ve seen a large rise in customers. This means that our collection schedules need to be reviewed to keep them efficient for the crews. Together, with our collection’s contractor, SUEZ we’ve updated some of the rounds which will help them run to schedule.
If your collection is changing, we’ll contact you directly, you do not need to do anything until you hear from us.
Your questions answered
Why is my garden waste collection day changing?
Our contractor SUEZ has informed us they need to update collection rounds to improve efficiency and service reliability. This may mean your garden waste collection day will be different from before.
When will the changes to my collection day take effect?
If your collection is changing, you will be either emailed or written to (depending on the details provided at time of subscription). The change will take affect from week beginning 24 November 2025. If you have not heard from us, then your collection day will stay the same. However, to be sure you can check from Monday 24th Nov when the new collection calendar will be updated.
How will I know what my new collection day is?
You should receive direct notification specifying your new collection day, either via email or a letter in the post. Additionally, you can check your collection schedule on the Somerset Council website from Monday 24th Nov when the new collection schedule will be updated.
Will my collection frequency change?
No, the frequency of garden waste collections will remain the same. Only the day of the week may change.
What should I do if my garden waste is not collected on the new day?
If your garden waste is missed, please report it as missed online within 5 working days of the schedule collection day.
Do I need to do anything differently with my garden waste?
No changes are required to how you prepare your garden waste. Please continue to use the provided containers and follow the guidelines for what can be included in garden waste collections.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the changes?
For any queries, please use our online comment form.
Will there be any changes to other waste or recycling collections?
Only garden waste collection days are being reviewed. If there are future changes to other collections, we’ll will notify you at that time.
Information
We collect domestic garden waste every two weeks for subscribers. You can use:
- 180-litre wheeled bins
- 90-litre compostable paper sacks
Manage your subscription
Use our online form to:
- order bins or sacks
- renew a subscription
- check your subscription status
- amend the number of bins on your subscription
Subscribe to or update your subscription
Use this form to check the status or expiry date of your existing subscription:
Check your current garden waste subscription
We send emails to subscribers each year to remind them about renewal. This usually happens during the first week of the month before your subscription ends.
We do not give refunds for cancelling the service during the year. Make sure you check the terms and conditions at the bottom of this page before placing an order.
The garden waste collection service is paused for two weeks after Christmas every year. The cost of a subscription takes this into consideration. Garden waste collections may also be halted during periods of severe weather.
Bin and sack prices
- A wheeled bin subscription: £73.50
- A pack of ten garden waste sacks: £36.50
These prices are valid until 31 March 2026.
Please read the service terms and conditions at the bottom of this page.
Other services
What we collect
We collect:
- Flowers and plants
- grass cuttings
- hedge trimmings
- leaves
- Small branches (less than 15cm or 6 inches wide) and bark
- Straw or sawdust (if bedding material, then only small quantities from household vegetarian pets, such as rabbits and hamsters, but not from micro-pigs, aviary birds, chickens, or pigeons)
Do not put any of the following with your garden waste:
- Plastics, including plastic plant pots and plastic bags
- Metal, glass, stone, rubble, ceramics, soil, turf, compost or clay flower pots
- Compostable or biodegradable bags or other containers
- Food or food waste, vacuum cleaner waste, nappies
- Cat litter, dog or cat waste, dead animals
- Bedding materials or waste from micro-pigs, chickens, pigeons, aviary birds
- Material treated with herbicides containing aminopyralid, clopyralid, picloram or similar persistent chemicals (follow manufacturer’s guidance on disposal of vegetation)
- Treated wood; material with Ash Dieback (Charala Fraxinea)
- Injurious plants including common Ragwort, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle
- Plants affected by honey fungus, should instead be burned
- Invasive plants, including Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Rhododendron Ponticum, New Zealand Pigmyweed
Collections guidance
On collection days:
- Put your bins or sacks out by 7am
- Do this no earlier than the night before
- Keep bin lids closed
- Do not block paths or roads
- Bring bins in as soon as you can after collection
Garden waste sacks come in packs of 10 and can be ordered using the My Waste Services feature.
For sacks to be collected, you must request a collection using My Waste Services before midday on the day before your scheduled collection day.
Garden waste should not be put out for refuse collections. We do not advise burning garden waste, as this can cause pollution and local nuisance.
Why we charge for collection
Collection charges cover the cost of providing the service. Only people using the service pay for it, rather than all council tax payers. Home composting is an ideal alternative, or take garden waste to a recycling site.
Your garden waste goes to one of several composting sites in Somerset, where it is shredded and turned into compost.
The compost is sold as revive soil conditioner through all recycling sites.
Terms and conditions
Somerset Council carries out garden waste collections in Somerset in fulfilment of its duties under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This contract sets out the basis on which we will provide the Garden Waste Collection Service to residents.