Recycle
There are several ways to recycle your garden waste:
Home compost
Make your own free compost for the garden.
Kerbside recycling
Some councils charge for this service, check your local council for further information.
Recycle centres
Staffordshire’s recycling centres accept all types of garden waste (such as weeds, prunings and leaves) and including larger items such as tree branches, that cannot be placed in the kerbside collection.
Please note: turf edging can be disposed of free of charge, however, turf from clearing larger areas is considered to be garden landscaping and is chargeable.
Does my council charge to collect garden waste
To find out please check direct with your local council.
I must use my bin to get rid of leaves that fall from street trees and my neighbour's garden. They aren't off my trees, so why should I have to get rid of them?
If leaves from a nearby tree fall into your garden it’s classed as a natural event and it’s down to you to dispose of them. Legally you can’t require the owner of the tree to dispose of them.
However, if you choose to cut off any tree branches or vegetation overhanging your property you should return what you remove to your neighbour or whoever owns the trees. That includes branches and fruit. You should not dispose of them yourself.
Can I put garden waste in my normal bin?
While there’s nothing stopping you, it is a waste of a useful resource.
In Staffordshire, most of the waste which can’t be re-used or recycled is sent to one of our two energy recovery plants where it gets burnt to generate electricity.
While this is a much better option than landfill, it is more important to recycle as much material as possible to keep valuable resources in circulation for longer.
Also, garden waste contains a lot of moisture. When it’s burned it reduces the efficiency of energy generation from the plant and less electricity is produced.
Won't there be an increase in fly-tipping if my council charges for green waste?
No. More than half of all UK councils now charge for garden waste collections and there is no evidence that charging has resulted in increased fly-tipping.
Isn't charging for green waste collection just a tax on gardens?
No. In the past, some councils could afford to offer a garden waste service free of charge. However, every council has seen substantial cuts to their budgets. In some cases that extra money simply isn’t there any more.
Councils now have to prioritise their funding so they can continue to deliver essential statutory services like social care. No council is required by law to offer a garden waste collection.
However, rather than simply cutting garden waste collections completely some councils have chosen to make a charge which will contribute towards running their service and keep it available for those who choose to use it.
There are still free alternatives to using a charged kerbside service including home composting and taking green waste direct to any of Staffordshire’s recycling centres.
When a council makes a charge to collect garden waste, what happens to that money?
The income from any charge helps towards meeting the cost of running their garden waste collection service, and other waste, recycling and environmental services.
Is it legal to charge for the collection of garden waste?
Yes. Collection of garden waste is not a statutory service, councils are not obliged to offer it. The Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 allow councils to charge for its collection.
Will compost attract rats?
Every neighbourhood has an underlying rat population, even if you don’t realise they are there. Rats only become a problem when they breed in numbers and invade our living spaces. If this happens they can cause substantial health and nuisance problems and will need to be controlled. However, your compost heap is unlikely to attract them to any degree, and you should never add cooked food. Placing the compost bin on a hard surface or chicken wire can help to keep rats out of a compost bin.
Will compost smell?
It shouldn’t. The knack with compost is to give it a stir occasionally to get air into it. Unpleasant smells are usually a sign that there’s not enough oxygen in the material. Stirring breaks it up and introduces air, top to bottom. Oxygen is needed for the fungi, bacterial and bugs to break it down into a sweet, earthy smelling compost.
How long does it take to make compost?
The time can vary. It can be as fast as three to four months if the weather’s warm and the material is regularly stirred, but it could take up to a year.
I can't afford to have my garden waste collected, haven't got room to compost it and have no way to get it to the tip. What else can I do for free?
One option might be to have a chat with a neighbour and see if they’d be willing to split the cost of a garden waste bin with you.
If someone you know is going to the recycling centre you could ask whether they’d mind taking some of your green waste too. Local recycling centres are free.
Or maybe you could share a compost bin if they have room for one.
Is there a limit on how much garden waste the tip will accept?
No, but if waste is believed to be from commercial sources there is a charge. So, if you use vehicles that suggest it is a business, you will be asked where the waste is from.
Can I put logs in my garden waste bin?
Your local district council organise the collection of your bins, so best check with your local council direct.
Your local recycling centres will accept logs.
I'm using my garden waste bin, but when it's full it's so heavy I can't move it. Can I get help?
Your local district council organise the collection of your bins, so best check with your local council direct.