We operate a chargeable collection service for garden waste for households across the Borough. These Terms and Conditions set out the expectations and limitations of the service.

Service overview

The service runs all year (except over Christmas and New Year). We provide three types of container:

  • 240 litre brown wheeled bin (same size as the recycling bin)
  • 140 litre brown wheeled bin
  • 75 litre biodegradable paper based sacks

As an alternative to garden waste bins, you are able to purchase 75 litre biodegradable paper-based compostable sacks to put your garden waste in.

The bin will be emptied or sacks collected once in every two-week period. Garden waste is collected on the same day as your recycling. Garden waste is collected by a separate vehicle to your recycling.

Cost of the service (wheeled bins)

The annual fee for the garden waste service depends on what type of container you choose:

  • £54.00 - 240 litre brown wheeled bins
  • £37.00 - 140 litre brown wheeled bins

The cost of the service may be subject to revision annually and we'll notify you in advance of any increase.

The bins remain the property of Gravesham Borough Council and will be removed if your subscription expires.

Cost of the service (garden sacks)

As an alternative to garden waste bins, you are able to purchase paper-based compostable sacks to put your garden waste in which we'll collect fortnightly. You can buy sacks in packs of 5 or 25. A pack of 5 costs £7.50 and a pack of 25 costs £37.50 and there is no limit to the amount of packs you can buy.

Renewals

We will send you a reminder, usually by email, 30 days before your subscription ends inviting you to re-subscribe to the service.

If you don't renew by the subscription end date, we will not collect your garden waste. Someone from the team will be in touch to arrange collection of your unwanted garden waste bin.

You must allow at least 48 hours before your next expected collection date for your account to be updated, otherwise we are unable to guarantee collection.

Cancellations and refunds

There are no refunds for cancellation of the service part way through the year, this includes if you move out of borough or if the service is withdrawn by us due to misuse.

Bins are not transferable to any new resident and should not be removed from the premises. Upon cancelling or not renewing your subscription, someone from the team will be in touch to confirm and arrange collection of your unwanted garden waste bin.

Garden bins/sacks can only be collected from the property that signed up to the service. You can't share sacks you've purchased with other properties.

Find out how to make changes to your existing subscription including, cancellations and change of address

If you're moving out of Gravesham, you should notify us of a change of address at least 10 working days before your move, so that we can arrange for the bin to be removed.

The waste containers

The dimensions of the containers for garden waste are:

  • 240 litre brown wheeled bin - 1070 mm (H) 580 mm (W) 740 mm (D)
  • 140 litre brown wheeled bin - 1054 mm (H) 490 mm (W) 560 mm (D)
  • 75 litre biodegradable paper-based compostable sacks

The bin you receive may not be new, but will be supplied clean and in a usable condition. You should put your house number/name on the bin so that it is easily identified by our crew. You are responsible for the general condition and cleaning of the bin.

If the bin goes missing or is affected by fair wear and tear, we will replace it within 10 working days of you reporting it. You can order bins and sacks online. There may be a charge of £20.00, including delivery.

The bins remain the property of Gravesham Borough Council and will be removed if your subscription expires.

Collection days

Garden waste is collected once in every two-week period (except over Christmas and New year). Garden waste is collected on the same day as your recycling.

The service operates from Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays which is normally run a day late except over Christmas and New Year on which there is no service. There may be revised bin collection days over a Bank Holiday.

We reserve the right to alter the collection day, but will provide adequate notice of no less than 5 working days on which reasonably practicable.

Find out when your garden waste collection day.

Property eligibility

When ordering a garden bin your eligibility will be automatically checked. You may not be able to have a garden bin for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • You use sacks for your rubbish and recycling
  • You live in a flat or communal building
  • You have a number of steps at the front of your property
  • You do not have sufficient space to store a garden waste bin

If your property is not eligible for a garden bin you may still be able to have garden sacks collected. Your eligibility for ordering sacks will be checked on the order form, find more information online

Presenting your bins/sacks for collection

Bins and sacks must be presented kerbside on the boundary line at the front of your property by 7am on the day of collection, unless agreed with the service team to be collected elsewhere. Your garden waste will be collected anytime between 7am and 4pm. You must return your bin to your property as soon as possible after collection (within 24 hours).

All bins/sacks must be clearly visible from the road, without any obstructions, away from hedges and walls. After emptying the bin, it will be returned to the boundary of the property. Sacks are not returned to you as the contents of the sack and the sack itself is recycled. It is the resident's responsibility to ensure that the bin is brought back onto their property on the collection day, unless agreed with the service team to be returned elsewhere.

Please note that your bin lid must be no more than 8 cm open.

Only the containers supplied by us will be emptied/ sack removed. Garden waste presented in any other way will not be collected.

You cannot use liners or bags within the bins as these are non-biodegradable and therefore cannot be taken to the composting plant.

Sacks should be folded to the line to enable the crew to be able to lift them. More information is provided on the front of your sack.

Please note that garden waste bins/sacks can only be collected from the property that signed up to the service. You can't share sacks you've purchased with other properties.

Assisted collections

If you can't easily wheel the bin to where you put your bins and sacks, you may be still eligible for a garden waste bin but you'll need to use our assisted collection service.

Find out about applying for assisted collections

Non-collection of bins/sacks

On rare occasions we may not be able to collect the bins/sacks due to access problems (e.g. road works, no access to roads, severe weather conditions). Such instances are outside the control of the collection crew and do not constitute a non-collection.

Residents should not report their bins/sacks as not being collected before 3pm on their collection day as it is feasible the crew are still collecting.

Where a bin/sack has been presented correctly but not collected, the resident can either wait until their next collection day or ask for the council to return and empty the bin/remove the sack. This must be reported within two working days after scheduled collection day.

Find out how to report a missed bin online. You may be contacted by an officer to discuss the missed collection.

If the bin hasn't been presented correctly or put out by 7am on the day of collection, we will not return to empty the bin.

Moving house

Residents may transfer the service to a new address within the Borough of Gravesham as long as your new home is suitable for us to collect from. You'll need to transport the bin from the old property to the new property.

Notify us online of a change of address with at least 10 working days prior to your change of address. This includes if you are moving out of Gravesham but we will arrange for the bin to be removed.

Bins are not transferable to any new resident at the address and should not be removed from the premises except by us. The account is in the resident's name and not the address.

Garden bins/sacks can only be collected from the property that signed up to the service. You can't share sacks you've purchased with other properties.

Acceptable material, contamination and overweight bins

Only garden waste may be placed loose in the bin or sacks. Garden waste includes grass cuttings, flowers, small tree branches (maximum 10 cm circumference), loose leaves, shrub and hedge trimmings, but not large branches, turf, earth, soil, stones, gravel, sawdust etc. The garden waste must not be placed in plastic bags within the bin or sacks, as this affects the composting process. Sacks should only be filled to dotted line.

Contaminated bins (i.e. bins containing incorrect materials) will not be emptied. A sticker will be placed on the bin by the crew to advise the bin is contaminated. If the bin is contaminated it is your responsibility to remove the item(s) before the next collection. If the contamination continues, we may suspend or withdraw your service.

Bins/sacks that are overflowing (i.e. when the lid is not closed) or overweight (i.e. the crew are unable to move the bin or the vehicle is unable to lift it) will not be emptied/ sack removed. A sticker will be placed on the bin/sack by the crew to identify the issue. It is your responsibility to remove item(s) prior to the next collection. If you fail to do so we may suspend or withdraw your service.

Only waste contained within the bin/sack will be collected and we will not collect garden waste from any other container.

Bin misuse

We accept no liability for bins/sacks used for any other purpose other than for the collection of garden waste. Residents use the bins/sacks at their own risk. Evidence of misuse of the bins/sacks may result in the termination of the service.

Disclaimer

I understand that the omission or inaccuracy of information from the online application form may lead to a delay in processing of my request.