From 1 April 2026, you'll need subscribe to our collection service if you want us to remove your garden waste.
We'll continue to collect garden waste bins as usual from 1 April until 28 June 2026. This grace period is to give people the opportunity to subscribe to our service.
You do not need to contact us if you do not wish to subscribe. Unless we hear from you, we will not collect your garden waste.
If you have not subscribed by 29 June 2026, we'll stop emptying your garden waste bins.
How to subscribe
We'll update this page on 1 April with instructions on how to subscribe to the garden waste collection service.
You'll be able to apply and pay for your subscription in one of the following ways:
- by completing an online form
- contacting us by the telephone
Cost
There will be an annual subscription of £60 per bin.
You'll need to pay the subscription fee in full when you sign up. We do not accept payment in instalments.
You can subscribe at any time during the collection season for the full £60 subscription fee. There are no discounts for joining midway through the subscription period - the sooner you sign up for the service, the more collections you’ll have.
We do not offer discounts for households who receive benefits or council tax reductions.
There are no limits on the number of bins you can have. The following costs apply for each extra bin:
- a one-off payment of £25
- an annual subscription fee of £60
How the service will work
We’ll collect your garden waste every two weeks between April and March with no collections in the non-growing seasons in December, January and February. This works out as a maximum of 20 garden waste collections, over the 40-week subscription period.
Once you've paid, we'll send a sticker for each bin you've subscribed for. We'll send the stickers to you by post, which you must place under the handle on your bin.
You must use a bin that we've provided. You cannot use your own bin or any other type of container.
Your subscription will not automatically renew in 2027. We’ll contact you before your subscription ends and tell you what to do if you want to sign up again. If you do not renew, we’ll stop collecting your garden waste without further notice.
How to prepare your garden waste and what to put in your bin.
What to do your garden waste if you do not subscribe
If you do not subscribe for a collection, you could take it to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres
Another option is to compost your garden waste. Composting at home is the simple way to help nature restore your garden's health and vitality. The following organisations can help you get started:
- Get Composting - offers on composting bins and food digesters in our area
- Garden Organic: Cumbria Master Composters - advice and volunteering opportunities
- Recycle now - how to set up home composting
Terms and conditions
You can find in-depth information about the collection service and what you can expect from us in our terms and conditions for garden waste subscriptions.
Why we have a subscription service
Garden waste collections are not covered by council tax. We must collect general waste and recycling free of charge, but garden waste collection is a discretionary service.
Around 65% of local authorities in England already charge for garden waste collections as a non-essential and opt-in service.
Contact us
Customer Services
Email: wastepermits@westorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Address: South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DQ
Telephone: 0300 373 3300