Garden waste collection service

The garden waste service is available to all households in the district who wish to subscribe to receive this service.  Costing £26.00 per bin per year, the service provides an easy way to dispose of your excess garden waste from the convenience of the kerbside.  Upon payment, you will receive a licence which will need to be cleary displayed on your bin.  This will show the crew that you are entitled to recieve this service.  Each year the licence changes so it is important that your new licence is displayed by the time your first collection of the new year is due.

You do not have to join the scheme but will need to find an alternative way to dispose of your garden waste if you opt-out.  If you no longer wish to take part in the scheme and would like us to collect your old wheeled bin please email us: council@fdean.gov.uk  Please note we will not collect garden waste presented in the black refuse bin.

How can I get a garden waste licence?

In order to have your garden waste collected, your wheeled bin(s) must bear a valid licence from 1 April each year.  The cost of a licence is £26.00 per bin per year.  Payment can be made over the phone by calling 01594 810000 or in person at the Council offices during opening hours (Monday-Friday) using a debit or credit card.  Please not that a surcharge of 1.6% is applied to payments made by credit card (but not debit card).  Unfortunately, we no longer accept payment by cash but we can still accept postal orders or cheques.  Please make these payable to: Forest of Dean District Council.  Alternatively, you can apply online.

You can expect your licence to be delivered within 14 days of making your payment.  Upon receipt, your licence will need to be affixed to the handlebar at the base of the lid of your wheeled bin using the cable tie provided so that it is clearly visible to the collection crew.

Can I join the scheme mid-way through the year?

You are free to join the scheme at any time, however as there is a set charge for the year (April to March) it is recommended that you join before the service change date to ensure you receive a full year of garden waste collections.  All licences expire on 31 March each year regardless of when you have joined the scheme and the cost to you will be the same.

Where can I get more information?

To find out more about the service please read the Frequently Asked Questions - Charged for Garden Waste Service.  If your question is not answered here, please call our Customer Support Team on 01594 810000 who will be able to help you.

To view a copy of the current leaflet, please click here: Garden Waste Leaflet.

What can I put into my wheeled bin?

The garden waste service is able to take your:

• Grass cuttings
• Garden trimmings and leaves
• Garden plants and weeds
• Tree and hedge prunings
• Christmas trees (please cut to 1.5m lengths)

All materials need to be contained within the green wheeled bin.  Unfortunately we cannot take garden waste put out for collection in other containers as these are not always compatible with the lifing mechanism on our collection vehicles.  Wheeled bins should be placed at the kerbside for 7.30am on the day of collection.  All garden waste is taken to an on-farm composting facility at Dymock, where it is shredded and windrowed to produce compost.

Which items are not accepted in my wheeled bin?

Only organic garden waste can be put in your green wheeled bin.  While not exclusive, below is a list of the sort of items which are not accepted:

• Fencing and posts
• Plastics and oils, including pots and seed trays
• Stones, soil, metals, glass, cardboard and papers
• Kitchen waste including vegetable and fruit peelings
• Garden cuttings in plastic bags
• Rubble and concrete
• Painted materials
• Paper and cardboard

What day are my garden cuttings collected?

To find out what days your garden waste is collected please click this link.  Please remember that collections will take place a day later than stated during weeks where a Bank Holiday Monday falls due.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE GARDEN WASTE SERVICE WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM MONDAY 23 DECEMBER 2013 AND RESUME ON MONDAY 6 JANUARY 2014.  For more information about how collections are affected by Bank Holidays, Christmas and New Year please visit Bank Holiday Collections.

How can I obtain a new or additional garden wheeled bin?

Please advise us when ordering your licence whether a bin is required.  We will aim to deliver your bin within 28 days.

What if my garden wheeled bin or licence has been stolen?

Any stolen wheeled bins or licences should be reported to the police.  Upon verification of the police incident number we will replace your garden wheeled bin or licence free of charge. 

To advise us that your bin has been stolen, please complete the online form or contact us on 01594 810000.

Will the garden cuttings be collected if I use plastic sacks?

Garden waste will only be accepted if contained within the designated green wheeled bins.  If excess garden material is placed out for collection in plastic sacks or another container it will not be collected.

What if I cannot cope with the wheeled bin?

If you are unable to cope with a wheeled bin due to infirmity or disability or there is a specific access issue with your property which prohibits the use of the wheeled bin, we are able to offer an alternative service using sacks which are provided by the council.  These bags are supplied in place of the wheeled bin and cannot be used alongside the wheeled bin.  An annual licence fee of £26.00 still applies.

What happens if I am unable to get the wheeled bin to the kerbside for collection?

If you are elderly, infirm or disabled and cannot manage to take your wheeled bin (or FODDC garden composting sacks) to the kerbside then it may be possible to arrange an assisted collection service for you.  Please telephone us on 01594 810000 and we will send a form out to you which will need to be completed by your doctor or a healthcare professional and returned to us.  Alternatively, complete our online form and one of our Customer Services Team will contact you.

For more information please refer to our Assisted Collections leaflet.

What do I need to do if my garden waste has not been collected?

If your garden waste has not been collected please call us on 01594 810000 or complete this form.  Please report missed collections to us by 12.00pm the following day (or Monday if your collection was due on the preceding Friday) and we will endeavour to return to your property and pick up the missed waste as soon as possible.  To enable us to make the collection, please leave your waste at the kerbside. 

Remember all waste and recycling needs to be presented at the kerbside by 7.30am.

In adverse weather, please ring 01594 812666 (recorded message) or visit the Recycling, Rubbish and Waste home page for up to date information.

Why can't I put vegetable peelings in my garden wheeled bin?

Due to legislation such as the Animal By Product Regulations, we are unable to windrow compost anything that has gone in to the kitchen due to issues regarding cross contamination of meat foodstuffs (particularly in light of issues such as BSE) and other bacteria such as salmonella and E-coli.  Food waste (also known as kitchen waste) has to be treated using a completely different method to that used for composting general garden waste to ensure that it is safe for reuse.

From 2 July food waste will be collected from households for recycling.  If you do not have a food waste caddy and would like to take part in this service please contact the Council on 01594 810000.

Will the Council continue to pick up Christmas trees from the kerbside?

We will continue to pick up real Christmas trees left out at the kerbside from all households.  Please present your tree on your scheduled garden waste collection day between Monday 6 - Friday 17 January 2014.  Please reduce larger trees to sections no longer than 1.5m. 

Frequently Asked Questions - Charged for Garden Waste Service