Garden Waste Subscription Service
Garden waste collections from April
If you want to continue with fortnightly garden waste collections from 1st April, you’ll need to sign up now to get the most from Central Bedfordshire Council’s new subscription-only service.
As of 1st April, you’ll need to subscribe to continue getting a kerbside collection of your garden waste for the spring, summer and autumn months.
The easiest way to pay is online by debit or credit card on our website, where you’ll also find all the information you need about the service.
Garden Waste Subscription Service
How much will it cost?
The annual subscription is £55 per bin
Please note:
- you can have up to three bins (the cost will be £55 per bin)
- you can sign up at any time in the year, but the cost will remain at
£55 per bin for collections up to and including 31st March 2025 - once subscribed, CBC will collect your garden waste fortnightly between now and December, and then resume collections from late February to the end of March 2025
CBC won’t automatically renew your subscription, so you’ll have the choice of subscribing again next year if you want to continue using the service. They’ll notify you of the charge and payment date before the start of each year.
Why is the council introducing charges for collecting my garden waste?
The charge is a response to the financial challenges faced by local councils across the UK – largely caused by inflation and an increasing demand on both children’s services and adult social care. Well over half of councils in the UK already charge for garden waste collection, helping them to protect vital services.
What if I don’t want to subscribe?
If you choose not to opt in, you don’t need to do anything – you’ll just stop receiving garden waste collections. You can take your garden waste to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (tip or dump) or compost it at home in your garden.
CBC recycling centres are open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm. You can find your nearest recycling centre on the CBC website.
How will it work?
CBC will add you to their subscriber database and send you a permit that you just need to stick on your garden waste bin. The collection crews will then know which bins to collect.
If you currently use a bag to dispose of your garden waste and you have chosen to subscribe to the service, you will be issued you with a green bin.
How do I subscribe?
To opt into the new service and order a permit, subscribe online. Just make sure you have a credit or debit card ready.
Once subscribed, CBC will send you a welcome pack with a leaflet reminding you of what can be taken in the garden waste bin, and your all-important sticker.
And remember – the service period runs until 31st March 2025 and will cost £55 whenever you join, so to get best value from the service, sign-up now.