Your garden waste service

The Council's garden waste service is now fully subscribed. As a result we are currently unable to accept any new customers.

We are securing a number of new subscribers on a waiting list before expanding this service. If you would like to join the waiting list, you can do so online or by telephoning the Council on 01483 755855.

You will be notified by phone as soon as there is an opportunity for you to subscribe to the scheme. We will attempt to contact you three times, but if we are not successful we will assume you are no longer interested and so you will be removed from the waiting list.

Existing customers will be unaffacted.

What is the garden waste collection service?

This is an `opt-in' subscription based garden waste collection service using wheeled bins. In exceptional circumstances, where households are unable to accommodate a wheeled bin, subscribers will be provided with re-useable sacks. The collection service will operate all year round, with the exception of two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.

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Why do I have to pay for the garden waste collection service?

The policy of charging for garden waste collection is common within Surrey and across the UK and fits in with Surrey's Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. This states that where districts and boroughs offer garden waste collection services, these should be chargeable to incentivise home composting as an alternative.

If the cost of providing this service was wholly funded from Council tax, this would mean that people without gardens would have to pay for a service they cannot use. By charging for the collection service, the cost of providing the service is met by the actual users of the collection service.

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How does the garden waste subscription service work?

Residents can order one or more green wheeled bin. These will be delivered to your door and emptied every two weeks on your waste or recycling collection day.

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What will it cost?

New charge - with effect from 1 October 2011

	Full charge	Residents in receipt of means tested benefit
One wheeled bin (or reusable sacks*)	£37	£21
Each additional bin**	£15	£10

*for households unable to accommodate wheeled bins

**up to a maximum of six wheeled bins

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Why have you changed the subscription charge?

The garden waste subscription service was introduced in late 2009 and the cost has remained the same for the first two years of operation. It is the Council's policy to review its discretionary fees and charges at least once every year. As part of the review for 2011/12, Council approved the increased charges as above.

We apologise for the increase, which is due to rising operation costs, fuel price increases and the costs associated with processing garden waste for composting.

The price of one wheeled bin (or re-usable sacks) will be increased on 1 October 2011. The price for additional bins remains unchanged.

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How does the new subscription charge affect me?

New subscribers - if you join before 1 October 2011 your first subscription will be at the current charge.

If you join on or after 1 October 2011 your first subscription will be at the new charge.

Existing subscribers - if your annual renewal date is before 1 October 2011 your renewal charge will be at the current charge.

If your annual renewal date is on or after 1 October 2011 the charge will be at the new charge.

You can renew online up to one month before your subscription expires. Your subscription charge will be based on your subscription renewal date, even if renewing before 1 October 2011.

Your assistance in renewing before your expiry date is appreciated. This helps to minimise service administration, which in turn keeps the annual subscription charge down.

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Are different size wheeled bins available?

Residents can request a 240-litre (standard sized) or 140-litre (smaller sized) green wheeled bin. The cost of subscribing to for a 140-litre green wheeled bin is the same as for a 240-litre green wheeled bin.

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What if I am unable to store a wheeled bin?

If you only produce a small amount of garden waste, why not try sharing a bin with one or more of your neighbours?

Alternatively, re-usable sacks are available to those households which cannot have wheeled bins due to problems with access or obstacles and are on our sack collection list. The re-usable sacks will provide the same capacity as a 240-litre wheeled bin.

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What are the rules of the garden waste subscription service?

Any garden waste put out for collection must be in the Council's pre-paid garden waste wheeled bins or re-usable sacks. Only garden waste contained in these containers will be collected.

Containers must not be overfilled or too heavy for the crew to handle.

They must contain only compostable material.

They must be made available from 6.30am at the boundary of your property on your collection day.

We can only collect domestic garden waste. Professional gardeners and contractors cannot use this service. If you employ a gardener, check they are a Registered Waste Carrier. Garden waste can be disposed of at Slyfield Waste Transfer Station.

Containers remain the property of Woking Borough Council. Any lapsed membership will result in the non-collection of your garden waste and the removal of your garden waste containers.

Please also see the full list of Terms and Conditions.

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Can my garden waste be collected from my door?

If you are eligible for assisted collections for refuse and recycling (because you have difficulties moving the waste) you will also receive assisted collections for garden waste. If you no longer require assisted collections please advise us.

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What if I only produce a small amount of garden waste?

The Council continues to promote home composting - over 13,000 home composters have been purchased by residents. Alternatively, you can share a garden waste container with your neighbour.

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How do I share a subscription with my neighbour?

Residents will be able to share a garden waste subscription with an immediate neighbour. One household would have the subscription registered to them and then arrange payment with their neighbour. The address we need is the one where the garden waste will be collected from - this is where all correspondence will be sent.

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What if I produce lots of garden waste?

By programming garden work the waste can be evenly spread across the fortnightly collection period. Residents can also subscribe for more than one wheeled bin.

The Council continues to promote home composting - over 13,000 home composters have been purchased by residents. Free leaf mulch bags are also available from the Council.

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Can I subscribe if I live in a flat development?

Those residents who wish to subscribe to the garden waste service but live in a flat development should telephone the Council on 01483 755855 where their enquiry will be passed onto the Neighbourhood Officer for your area. The Council will work with residents on an individual basis to establish your suitability for the collection service.

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How do I subscribe?

The Council's garden waste service is now fully subscribed. As a result we are currently unable to accept any new customers.

You can save time and subscribe online and pay by credit or debit card.

Alternatively, you can telephone the Council on 01483 755855 and pay by credit or debit card.

If you are attempting to telephone the Council and pay for your subscription please remain patient and your call will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Cash and cheque payments (with a cheque guarantee card) can be made in person at the Civic Offices. The Civic Offices are open from 9am until 4.45pm Monday to Friday.

We cannot accept payment by cheque or cash sent in the post.

Please read the Terms and Conditions. Subscriptions are based on a 12 month non-refundable agreement.

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Can I pay by direct debit?

Unfortunately, this service is not available at the moment. However, we are continually investigating ways to make it as easy as possible for residents to use the service.

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When will I receive my container(s)?

Once payment has been made your container(s) will be delivered to you within 28 working days. We will separately post you a Membership Pack which will include an address sticker for your container(s), a copy of our service Terms and Conditions and information on your collection day.

Please note: Our contractor will take a photograph when they deliver your container as proof of delivery.

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When do I renew?

Around 20 days before your subscription expires you will receive a reminder letter but you can also renew online up to one month before your subscription expires.

Your assistance in renewing before your expiry date is appreciated. This helps to minimise service administration, which in turn keeps the annual subscription charge down.

Your renewal date is calculated as the first scheduled collection following the delivery of your garden waste container(s), not the date when the container(s) are first presented for collection.

If you do not renew your subscription by your expiry date the Council will recover the container(s).

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What can be placed into the garden waste container(s)?

Yes please	No thanks
Grass cuttings	Soil, stones or gravel
Hedge trimmings	Flower pots
Garden prunings	Seed trays
Leaves	Kitchen or food waste
Small twigs	Pet litter or waste
Dead plants	Cardboard, paper, glass or metal
Branches no thicker then 12cm	Wood, timber or sawdust
Garden fruit	Plastic bags

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Why can I not put pet bedding in my container?

We are not able to collect animal bedding or wastes. Even if the animal is vegetarian and the bedding is hay or straw, the waste is still the by-product of an animal. The facility we use is not licensed to take these materials and we suggest you home compost these items.

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Why can I not put bags of garden waste inside the bin?

Please put your garden waste loose inside the bin. We cannot accept any bags or sacks as these cannot be composted.

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What happens if the material in my container freezes?

Due to the high water content of garden waste, occasionally the waste may freeze during cold spells. When water freezes it expands, so the material will be stock fast against the sides of the container. This could prevent the container being emptied. Where possible, we will check back later in the day, but as weather is unpredictable it may not be possible to empty the container until the next scheduled collection day.

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How do I keep the wheeled bin clean?

Keep the lid of the wheeled bin closed at all times. When cleaning, we advise you lay the bin on its side and disinfect with shop-bought disinfectant, hot water and a mop or broom. Please empty this water into the drain rather than onto your garden.

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How do I keep my re-usable sack clean?

Only put plant material into the sacks. Take care to shake off any soil from the roots of plants and weeds. When empty, a soft bristled brush can be used to lightly loosen any plant material stick inside the sacks.

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What happens if I need a replacement container?

If the container becomes worn out, lost or damaged, the subscriber will be responsible for the cost of a replacement. The cost of a replacement is currently £45 each and the cost of a replacement re-usable sack is £15 for the first sack and £2.50 for each additional sack thereafter. All containers remain the property of Woking Borough Council.

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Can I subscribe for additional wheeled bins mid-way through my subscription year?

Residents are encouraged to subscribe for the number of wheeled bins they feel most appropriate to manage their garden waste. A maximum of six wheeled bins will be provided.

If at any point during the subscription year you feel you need another wheeled bin for your garden waste these can be provided at a cost.

Please note: each subscriber has a single renewal date. This means any additional bins added during the year will be subject to the full renewal charge.

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If I don't want to subscribe to the garden waste collection service, what else can I do with my garden waste?

You can home compost - over 13,000 home composters have been purchased by residents. Alternatively, you can take you garden waste to your local Community Recycling Centre at Martyrs Lane or Slyfield . Both CRCs have containers for garden waste and the material is taken for composting.