Garden Waste Subscription Service

Our garden waste collection is an opt-in paid subscription service. If you wish to receive a fortnightly green-lidded bin collection you will need to pay an annual fee.

Subscriptions for the 2024 collection service (starting in March and ending in November) are now available to buy. The cost is £50 per green-lidded bin. Each additional green-lidded bin is charged at the same rate.

You can buy your subscription or an additional green-lidded bin online:

Subscribe now

To avoid any disruption to your service, we will collect green-lidded garden waste bins that have a 2023 subscription sticker throughout March 2024. This will allow time for your new bin stickers to arrive.

To continue having your garden waste collected after March you will need to buy a new garden waste subscription. Your new sticker will need to be on your green-lidded bin as soon as you receive it to ensure your collections continue throughout 2024.

How does it work?

  • To have your garden waste collected, you need to buy a subscription via the link above. Those without internet access can call our Customer Services on 01442 228000. 
  • Once subscribed you will receive a subscription sticker with a unique serial number. Attach the sticker to the body of your Dacorum Borough Council green-lidded bin to make it eligible for collection. If a bin does not have a sticker then we will not collect it.
  • We collect green-lidded bins fortnightly from the beginning of March until the end of November. Find out when your next collection is.
  • If you do not already have a green-lidded bin or need a new additional green-lidded bin, you will have to pay a one-off fee of £29 for delivery of the bin.

What are the alternatives?

If you decide not to sign up to the paid service, there are many ways you can still recycle your garden waste. You can compost it in a home composting bin and turn it into valuable and nutrient-rich food for your garden, or take it to your local recycling centre

Terms and conditions

Please read our full  Garden Waste Subscription Service terms and conditions (PDF 140KB).

Frequently asked questions

For further information, please see our frequently asked questions below:

Subscribing to the service

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  • Why has the price changed?

    We have made the difficult decision to raise the price of the service from £45 to £50 a year. This reflects the increasing cost of providing the service. Like many other councils, limited funding means we face a challenging financial situation.

    However, the charge is still one of the cheapest in Hertfordshire. We have also cut the reduced rate from £35 to £34 for those receiving Council Tax Support.

  • I have already taken my sticker off my green-lidded bin - will it still be collected?

    Yes, if you bought a garden waste subscription last year, we will collect your green-lidded bin in March even if you have removed your 2023 subscription sticker.

    Please buy your new subscription as soon as possible to avoid any disruption in service after March.

  • What do I do with my old sticker?

    You can either take your old garden waste subscription sticker off your bin, and replace it with your new one, or place your new sticker over the top of the old one.

  • If I sign up after collections have begun, how much do I pay?

    The annual fee will remain the same throughout the year. We encourage you to sign up to the service as early as possible to ensure that you receive best value for money. 

  • What happens if I cannot afford the charge?

    A reduced rate of £34 is available for those receiving Council Tax Support. This does not include the Single Person Discount. Alternatively, you can compost your waste at home or take it to your local recycling centre.

  • Can I have a refund if I cancel the subscription during the year?

    No, if you decide to cancel the service (for example, if you move out of the borough) during the year, we are unable to offer a refund.

  • If I subscribe, when does my service start?

    Green-lidded bin collections will be the same as stated online.

    Once you have subscribed to the service, we aim to get your sticker (and extra bins if ordered) delivered to you within 10 working days of payment. We will not collect your green-lidded bin until it has a subscription sticker. It will then be collected at the next scheduled collection. For this reason, we encourage you to sign up to the service as early as possible.

    Delivery of bins and stickers may be affected by matters outside our control (for example, unexpected high demand or postal issues).

  • I currently have a garden waste sack collection. Can I still subscribe?

    We're phasing out the use of biodegradable garden waste sacks. If you currently use sacks, please email recycle@dacorum.gov.uk before buying your subscription. Only homes we assess as not having space for a green-lidded bin will be eligible for sack collection.

  • I don’t want my green-lidded bin. How do I arrange for it to be removed?

    If you ask for your green-lidded bin to be removed, then later decide to subscribe and need a new bin, there will be a charge to provide a new green-lidded bin.

    If you still wish for your green-lidded bin to be removed, please email recycle@dacorum.gov.uk.

    We will be collecting unwanted green-lidded bins in groups. This may mean it will take longer than 10 working days for us to remove your bin.

  • Can I share a bin with a neighbour?

    Yes. This is a great way to keep costs down. You will need to decide which neighbour will pay for the service and ensure that the bin is stored on their property ready for collection.

    It is the responsibility of individuals to split the costs between them. We will not get involved in any disputes from neighbours who decide to share a bin.

  • Can I have more than one green-lidded bin?

    Yes, you can have an unlimited number of extra green-lidded bins for each household. Each bin will be charged at the same rate.

    You can order and pay for this through the same link as the subscription service.

  • Will you collect additional garden waste that won't fit into the green-lidded bin?

    No. We will only collect what is stored within the bins. They should not be overfilled. If they are too heavy to be lifted or moved safely, then we will not collect them. You will then be responsible for ensuring your bin is suitable for the next collection. We will not return until the next scheduled collection.

    If you frequently have excess garden waste, you may wish to buy an additional green-lidded bin, or a home composter.

  • I live in a block of flats that has a managing agent, can I sign up or does it have to be the landlord / managing agent?

    The subscription is related to the property, so we would encourage the landlord / managing agent to sign up.

  • If my green-lidded bin is missed, do I get a refund?

    No. If your green-lidded bin is not collected because it fails to meet the standards set out in our terms and conditions - such as contamination with the wrong materials or being too heavy - then you will need to resolve the issue before the next scheduled collection.

    If the bin is missed accidentally, then it must be reported to us within 48 hours and we will aim to collect it within five working days. 

    If we can't collect your bin due to circumstances beyond our control (for example, severe weather), please leave it out and we will do our best to collect where possible.

How the service works

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Why we charge

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  • Why do you charge?

    Not everyone needs a garden waste collection service. The majority of residents who live in flats do not manage their own gardens and so do not need this service. Many residents do not create enough garden waste to warrant a fortnightly collection, or already choose to have compost bins to break down their garden waste. Making the service a paid-for subscription means that only those who are using the service are paying for it. This makes it fairer for everybody and enables Council Tax to be spent more effectively.

  • I already pay Council Tax, why are you charging me twice?

    The Council Tax that you pay helps to provide mandatory services, which have to be prioritised. Garden waste is a discretionary service, not a mandatory one, meaning that it is a service we are not legally required to provide. Having a self-funded, optional service for garden waste helps us to protect our other essential public services.

  • Do other councils charge for collecting garden waste?

    More than two thirds of councils in England currently charge for this service. The majority of other councils in Hertfordshire charge for garden waste collections - this includes St Albans, Watford, Three Rivers, East Herts, North Herts, Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield.

  • Has the charge led to an increase in fly-tipping of garden waste?

    Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. Whether a single bag or a truck load of rubbish, it is a criminal offence punishable by an unlimited fine or imprisonment.

    We have not seen a noticeable increase in garden waste fly-tipping since the subscription was brought introduced.

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Page Last Updated: Friday, 01 March 2024 at 08:00 AM