07/03/2025 - Permalink

Garden waste subscriptions top 70,000

Related topics: Climate change / environment

More than 70,000 households have now subscribed to Shropshire Council’s garden waste collection service – more than 50% of eligible households – latest figures show.

And people who haven’t yet subscribed are being reminded to sign up by the 31 March [2025] cut-off if they want to have their garden waste collected during the spring and summer months.

Those who haven’t subscribed are also being reminded not to put garden waste in their general waste bin, as their general waste will be classed as contaminated and their bin won’t be emptied.

The collection service began in November 2024. A subscription costs £56 per bin and runs until 31 October. Everyone that subscribes receives a bin sticker that shows the waste collection crews which bins to empty.

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said:

“With the weather improving and the days getting longer many people will be heading out into their gardens to cut the grass, prune trees and bushes, do some weeding, and more. We’re therefore reminding people that if they want us to take away their garden waste in the coming weeks and months they need to subscribe to our collection service – and need to do so by the end of March.

“I’m really pleased with the number of people that have subscribed so far – and that more than half of all eligible households have now done so – and I want to thank everyone that has signed up. Each subscription is generating income which covers the cost of the service and frees up finances so that the council can continue to provide essential services for those who need them.”

More than 80 per cent of councils in England now charge for garden waste collections. The below map shows the neighbouring and nearby councils (including those in Wales) that charge.

People can also compost their garden waste at home, or take it to one of Shropshire Council’s household recycling centres.

For more information and to subscribe online go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste.