Garden waste service - your questions answered
Why has the cost of the service increased this year?
The price of the annual subscription has increased to cover the collection and administration costs of running the service.
How does the garden waste service work?
If you want us to collect your garden waste we offer a garden waste collection service which you have to pay for.
If you want to use the service you will need to register and pay a subscription fee. We will then collect your bags once every two weeks from the pavement outside your property. The collection may be on a different day to your other waste collections.
Are my permits valid for one year from the date I register for the service?
No, all annual permits issued are valid from 1 April until 31 March the following year. A six month subscription valid from 1 October until 31 March will also be available to register for from September.
It is important that the collection rounds are as settled as possible; permits are therefore issued on this basis so we can be sure everyone has a current permit with a clear expiry date.
Will the service run all year?
The service runs all year from Monday to Friday. This includes all bank holidays except 25 December and 1 January.
What happens if I move house after I subscribe?
If you move to another property within Lambeth you should contact the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 9000 to arrange the transfer of the subscription to your new address.
If you are moving outside of Lambeth the Service Centre will cancel your subscription. We cannot provide refunds for cancelled subscriptions.
How do I cancel my subscription and do I get a refund?
You can stop using the service at any time by contacting the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 9000.
We cannot offer any refunds if you stop using the service.
I live in a flat and have a garden. Can I join the garden waste service?
You can join the service if the garden you are collecting waste from is for your own private use and the garden is maintained by you.
Can commercial properties take part in the garden waste collection service?
No, we cannot include commercial properties or activities in the scheme. If you would like advice on commercial waste and recycling, please call 020 7926 9000 and we can arrange for an officer to visit your business to discuss your arrangements.
Reusable garden waste bags
Do I get my own bags?
The collection fee does not include the green reusable garden waste bags that you need to use to have your garden waste collected. If you already have reusable bags, these should be used. Households who need reusable garden waste bags will need to buy the bags for £5 each. We will only collect garden waste presented for collection in reusable bags supplied by the council.
How many garden waste bags can I have?
There is no limit to the number of bags we will issue per household. Only bags with permits attached will be collected however so you will need to buy a permit for each bag. If you are registered to use the service you can also purchase biodegradable bags at £15 per roll of ten if you have additional garden waste to remove.
Can I write my address on my garden waste bags?
We would encourage you to write your house number on your reusable garden waste bags. This will help the collection crews to know where to return the bags to. Your permit number is also specific to you and your property.
What size are the garden waste bags?
Each garden waste bag has a capacity of around 120 litres. The bags are 450mm width x 450mm depth x 600mm height.
What happens to my bags after they are emptied?
Our collection crews will put your garden waste bags back inside the boundary of your property and will secure them, for example, under a bin or hooked onto a fence.
My garden waste bags have gone missing or have been damaged. Will you replace them?
If your bag has been lost because you believe that it was not returned properly by the collection crew, please call the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 9000 and we can provide a replacement bag and a permit.
If your garden waste bags are lost on more than one occasion, you will need to buy a replacement bag.
Collections
My garden waste hasn’t been collected, what should I do?
Please check that your bag does not contain any items that we do not accept in the garden waste collection such as large branches or soil. If there is anything we cannot collect in your bag, please remove it and we will be able to collect your garden waste on your next collection day.
If you have put your garden waste bag out for collection at the right time and there are no items we cannot collect in it, contact the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 9000 to report a missed collection.
My garden waste has been collected, but there is still some material in the bottom
Sometimes material compacted at the bottom of the bag may not come out when it is tipped into the collection vehicle. Using a few small twigs as the first deposits at the bottom of the bag each time will make it easier for all the garden waste in the bag to be emptied.
What happens to my garden waste after it is collected?
Garden waste is taken to a large composting facility a few miles outside of London. After three months it will have been transformed into nutrient rich compost which is sold to farmers and horticulturists as a soil improver.
Compost
Can I buy the compost produced from the garden waste service?
The compost produced is not currently available to buy back from this service.
I'm interested in home composting. How do I find out more?
To compost garden waste at home and make home made soil improver, you can buy a home composter at subsidised rates. For information on composting please go to our home composting page.
I don't want to pay for this service, how can I get rid of my garden waste for free?
To compost garden waste at home and make homemade soil improver, you can buy a home composter, available at subsidised rates. For information on composting please go to our home composting page.
You can also take compost waste free of charge to Lambeth's Reuse and Recycling Centres at Vale Street, Cringle Dock and Smugglers Way. For opening times and the locations of Lambeth's Reuse and Recycling Centres please go to the Reuse and Recycling Centres page.