Garden waste collections

Christmas collections

Collections will cease for two weeks over Christmas, from Monday 25 December 2023 to Monday 8 January 2024. 

Service will resume Tuesday 9 January, and your normal collection day will be delayed by one day, starting with collections which would normally have taken place on Monday 8 January. See the table below for dates.

Christmas tree collections

People who pay to have their garden waste collected can put out their real Christmas tree, alongside their garden waste bin, on their first scheduled collection in January. Please remove all decorations from your tree. If your tree is over five foot, cut it into manageable pieces and put it in your garden waste bin if there is room.

Fake trees will not be collected, these can de disposed of at your local household recycling centre.

We will compost your tree if you put it out for collection, or you can support local charities such as Salisbury Hospice, Dorothy House Hospice and Prospect Hospice, by paying a small donation to have your tree collected by the Charity Christmas tree collection (just-helping.org.uk) (opens new window).

The garden waste collection service runs yearly, from June. If you are registering for the first time, the charge will be based on the month you are registering - see the table below. Renewals are charged at £66. 

Payment will cover the emptying of one 180 litre bin, every other week, until 30 June each year. You may pay for as many bins to be emptied as you wish. 

You cannot put food waste in your garden bin, so you may want to consider purchasing a food waste composter, more information on this is available on: Reducing your waste and composting.

You can put the following in your garden waste bin:

• grass cuttings
• shrub cuttings and prunings
• bark
• cut flowers
• weeds
• leaves
• hedge clippings
• house plants (please remove soil)
• twigs and small branches
• untreated sawdust 
• untreated wood shavings
• biodegradable bedding (hay, straw) from non-meat eating pets (rabbits, mice, hamsters)

Do not put the following things in your garden waste bin:

• any food waste including fruit, vegetables, peelings, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, meat
• windfall fruit (where possible Compost at home )
• invasive weeds
• animal waste except biodegradable bedding (hay, straw, shredded paper) from non-meat eating pets (rabbits, mice, hamsters)
• pet litter
• soil or turf
• bricks, stones or rubble
• ash
• paper, shredded paper or card
• large items of garden waste
• large branches or logs
• seed trays and plant pots
• packaging of any kind including 'compostable bags' or biodegradable plastics

Putting the wrong things in your garden waste bin will result in it not being emptied. 

Disposal of invasive weeds 

Advice on how to dispose of these can be found on How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading (gov.uk) (opens new window) and Stop ragwort and other harmful weeds from spreading (gov.uk) (opens new window).

You will need to clearly display your house name or number on your bin, under the handle, on the back. The crews have an in-vehicle system to tell them which addresses to collect from. Adding your number ensures the crew can identify your bin.

Place your bin out with the handle facing outwards. Your bin may not be collected if collection crews cannot identify your bin. 

All garden waste is composted locally. You can buy this compost from any of our Household recycling centres (HRCs) or directly from Hills Waste Solutions (opens new window) if you require larger volumes.

Yes, each additional bin will cost the appropriate amount found in the table at the top of this page. There is no limit on the number of bins you can have. 

If you don't want to pay for additional garden waste bins, why not consider a food waste composter - more information is available on: Reducing your waste and composting.

If you find it difficult to put out your rubbish and recycling bins or bags you can apply online for an assisted collection  or by calling us on 0300 456 0102.

If you do not want to sign up or renew your garden waste service and do not wish to keep your bin, we will retrieve it. If you change your mind and sign up for the chargeable garden waste service within a year, there will be a £25 charge in addition to the annual fee.

In order for your bin to be retrieved you must:

• request a retrieval using our online form (opens new window)
• empty your bin. We cannot retrieve bins containing waste
• keep your bin in an easily visible and accessible place so that the crew can locate it

If your bin is damaged, you can request a replacement online (opens new window).