Garden waste collection

What the service offers

• Fortnightly kerbside collection only stopping for two weeks over Christmas
• A choice of a 140 litre or 240 litre wheeled bin
• 12 month subscription

Sign up or renew your subscription

What we collect

• Hedge and grass cuttings
• Weeds, leaves, plants and cut flowers
• Twigs and branches up to 10 cm in diameter
• Real Christmas trees

What we don't collect

• Food waste, vegetables and fruit peelings
• Fallen fruit
• Plant pots or plastic
• Animal waste or pet bedding
• Straw, sawdust or compost
• Soil, turf, stones, gravel or rubble
• Fences, MDF or treated wood
• Japanese knotweed or Ragwort
• Large branches or logs over 10cm in diameter

Charges, terms and conditions

New subscriptions effective from 1 April 2024

Terms and conditions of the service

Before requesting this service please read our garden waste collection service terms and conditions

1. Subscription

• Customers may join the scheme at any point during the year.
• Customer subscriptions will be valid for 12 calendar months from the date of joining.
• Customers will be sent a reminder in advance of the renewal date to renew their subscription. If the subscription is not renewed the service will be cancelled.
• If a customer moves within the borough or district they can transfer the service to their new address. Customers moving outside of the borough or district can transfer the service to another resident. Allow ten working days to process this.
• The cost of the service is non-refundable .

2. New or replacement bins

• If your bin goes missing, is damaged or stolen you will need to purchase a new one. However, if it is within the first two years of purchase and proof is provided of the same then a replacement bin will be provided free of charge.

3. Collection dates

• There will be 25 garden waste collections per year, except as may be provided for by clause 7.
• Collections will take place once each fortnight on your designated day.
• Collection days remain the same throughout the year and will not change on bank holidays including Good Friday and Easter Monday.
• No collections will take place for the two-week period over Christmas and the New Year, information will be posted on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council websites.
• If unavoidable delays are experienced, collections may take place on a Saturday or Sunday.

4. Collections

• Bins and sacks must be presented for collection by:

1 September 2023 to 30 April 2024:
7am in Basingstoke and Deane
6.30am in Hart district
1 May 2024 to 31 August 2024:
6am in Basingstoke and Deane
6am in Hart district

• Containers should be presented for collection at the nearest point to the public highway (pavement or road) accessible by the collection vehicle.
• Only official Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council/Hart District Council containers will be emptied.
• All containers must be identifiable with an address by means of an address tag, numbered sticker, or paint.
• Collection crews will only collect the number of containers subscribed for and excess garden waste will not be collected.
• The maximum weight for sacks is 20kg and the maximum weight for bins is 50kg. The Contractor reserves the right to refuse collection where a container is above the maximum weight limit and where the collection crew reasonably believes, collecting it will result in a Health & Safety issue. Collection crews will leave a tag where a container is overweight and cannot be emptied.
• For subscribers using sacks (Basingstoke residents only), a weighted object should be left next to the sacks so it can be placed on the empty sacks to prevent them blowing away.

5. Contents of bins/sacks

• The containers can be used for the collection of grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, cut flowers, weeds, leaves, twigs, branches and prunings.
• Branches must not exceed 100mm in diameter to ensure they are suitable for processing.
• The containers cannot be used for food waste (including fruit and vegetable peelings), soil, turf, stones, rubble, fruit fall, animal waste (including bedding), Invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed, wood, biodegradable plastics, straw, sawdust, or compost.
• Frozen garden waste – Collection crews will attempt to empty garden waste bins where presented. If the container contents cannot be emptied because they are frozen, the container should be returned to the property and presented on the next scheduled collection. Collection crews will be unable to return to empty the container until the next scheduled collection and compensation will not be given when containers cannot be emptied due to frozen contents.
• If incorrect material is presented in containers, the collection crew will attach a tag advising of the reason why the container could not be emptied.

6. Reporting a missed collection

• In the event that a container has been presented correctly, but missed by the collection crew, this must be reported by the end of the next working day:
  Basingstoke : www.basingstoke.gov.uk/missed-bin-form
  Hart : https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/missedcollection-hart
• The container must remain at the collection point so that the collection crew may return and empty. We aim to rectify a missed collection within two working days.
• The collection crew will not return for any bins and/or sacks that do not comply with clauses 4 and 5.

7. Force majeure

• The council shall not be in breach of this agreement or otherwise liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations if such delay or failure results from extreme weather conditions including but not limited to fire, flood, storm or earthquake and any other natural disaster or acts of God, riots, war, acts of terrorism, unplanned road closures or other unforeseen access issues, Government restrictions relating to an epidemic or pandemic or otherwise, illness or staff shortages as a result of an epidemic or pandemic, business disruption caused by a pandemic or epidemic or any other event caused by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the refuse contractor but excluding any industrial dispute relating solely to the Contractor, the Contractor’s Personnel or any other failure in the Contractor’s supply chain.
• Where garden waste cannot be collected due to disruption, information will be posted on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council websites and social media channels.
• Where garden waste has not been collected as a result of one of the circumstances stated under clause 5 or 7, the council shall be under no obligation to issue a refund or extend subscription accounts.

December 2023

On your collection day

Containers must be out by 6am (May to August) or 7am (September to April). We can send you stickers to write your property number on, just complete a bin sticker form.

Frequently asked questions

I already have a garden waste container, when will my collection start if I sign up?

We need to extend our process for garden waste sign ups. Your collections will start on your closest collection day, 20 working days after you sign up. We appreciate that this may be frustrating, however it has been a necessary temporary change to allow new sign ups to be taken.

What happens to the garden waste we collect?

Garden waste is taken to an outdoor composting plant in Hampshire where it is turned into an organic soil conditioner called Pro grow Pro-Grow.

This is available to purchase from all Household Waste and Recycling Centres across Hampshire or online.

What time do I need to put my container out for collection?

Your containers should be ready for collection by 6am (May to August) or 7am (September to April).

My sacks are heavy, will you still take them?

Sacks must not weigh more than 20kg. As per our health and safety guidance, collection staff will leave sacks that are too heavy. The manual handling risks that overweight sacks present to our crews is one of the reasons why we are phasing out the use of these containers. Sacks will no longer be available for use from April 2024.

Will you take excess garden waste?

No, we only empty the containers you have paid to use as the rounds/vehicles only have enough capacity for these.

If you currently use sacks, exchanging two sacks for a 240L wheeled bin for garden waste will give you an extra 60 litres of capacity for the same subscription fee. You will need to purchase the bin. Please note, sacks will no longer be available for use across the service from April 2024.

Can I change the number of containers I am currently signed up for?

You will be able to change the number of containers on your subscription. Please contact us if you need to order containers and please be aware that we may be experiencing high demand and therefore delivery may take longer than usual. Please also note that as garden waste subscriptions using sacks will no longer be available from April 2024, these containers are being phased out and may not be available.

Can I continue to use my sacks even if I have purchased a bin?

If you have paid for a bin only service we won't empty any sacks that are put out for collection. Please note, sacks will no longer be available for use across the service from April 2024.

What happens to my collection service if I move home?

If you move within the borough, you can transfer the service to your new address. If you move out of the borough, you can transfer the service to another resident, please note your collection week/day may change. Please allow ten working days for us to make the change.

Can I use bin liners in my bin?

No, please do not use bin liners in your bin.

How can I stop my garden waste from freezing?

The material that goes into garden waste bins tends to be damp and wet meaning that during periods of very cold weather it can become frozen. When this happens it can be difficult for the crews to empty the bins as the contents stick to the sides of the container.

There are some things that you can do to prevent your garden waste bin contents from freezing:

• Do not compress the waste in your bin
• keep your bin lid shut to prevent water or snow from getting inside
• move the contents around regularly using a spade or stick
• place your bin in the sun during the day
• store your bin in a sheltered area if you can, for example in a shed or garage or beside one of your house walls