The collection of garden waste is not a statutory service under the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012, therefore local councils do not currently have to provide a garden waste collection and the service is not directly included in council tax bills.
Find answers to common questions about Ipswich Borough Council's Garden Waste Collection Service.
Garden Waste Collection Service FAQs
Will my Council Tax be reduced as I am now being asked to pay for the Garden Waste Collection Service?
What if I don’t have a brown bin?
If you do not have a brown bin and you don't require one, you do not need to take any action. If you would like to start a garden waste collection service you can book online for a subscription by clicking the button below and we will deliver you a bin.
Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
How much will the garden waste collection service cost?
The cost will be £50 per bin for the period 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2026.
When will this service begin?
The new service will begin on the 1st of April 2025. We will provide fortnightly garden waste collections to you if you pay the subscription fee for the Scheme in advance. The annual fee for the service is set by us each year and details of the current fee and other charges are published on our website.
Are any concessionary discounts available?
If you are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction due to a low household income, have a Care Leaver (Under 25) discount or have a Severe Mentally Impaired Exemption for Council Tax Exemption you will be entitled to a discount of 10%.
To apply this discount you must upload proof of entitlement via the below form online form. This will need to be a photo of your current Council Tax bill clearly showing the discount/exemption and your name and address.
Please note: The 25% Single Person Discount on Council Tax is a different discount and will not entitle you to the 10% off.
Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
Will the price be reduced if I subscribe halfway through the year?
The price will not be reduced if you subscribe halfway through the year, as this is an annual fee. All renewals will take place at the same time each year.
The annual fee for the service is set by us each year and details of the current fee and other charges are published on the Council’s fees and charges page.
Can I have more than one garden waste bin?
Yes, you can have more than one garden waste bin, each bin is charged at the rate of £50 per year.
To sign up to receive an additional bin click the button below. Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
Request an additional garden waste bin
How will you know I’ve paid?
Within 14 days of payment of the fee, we shall send to you a permit sticker for you to put on to the bin. We will only empty bins that have the permit sticker clearly displayed. Permits will be sent out to residents from 1st March 2025 on initial sign ups and should be received within 14 days.
What if I've paid for my permit sticker and it hasn't arrived by collection day?
If the bin sticker does not arrive within 14 days, please order a replacement on the website or contact us on the phone. Please leave your bin out and our crews will be made aware of the delayed permit delivery. If you sign up in February 2025 the permits will be posted from 1st March 2025 so please allow 14 days from this point.
Can I pay on behalf of somebody else?
Yes, you can subscribe on behalf on somebody else via the below online form.
Please make sure when entering the permit address on the subscription form it clearly states the address you want the permit for.
Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
How do I check my bin collection day?
Please note collection days will be on the same day as the current collection. You can check your bin collection days online.
What if I have an assisted collection?
If you are eligible for an assisted collection and have paid the annual fee for the brown bin, our crews will continue to collect your bin from within the boundary of your property.
What if I move house?
If you move house, please leave your bin at the property. If you move within the Ipswich Borough, you can tell us about your change of address by clicking on the button below from the 1st April 2025 and we will ensure your subscription is transferred and that a new permit is issued to your new address.
If there is no garden waste bin at your new address, please tell us and we will deliver a bin free of charge. We will endeavour to deliver the bin to you within 14 working days of your request, subject to the property being occupied. To prevent any delay in continuing with the scheme please inform us at least 14 days prior to your move to a new address.
Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
Request to transfer Garden Waste Collection Service (brown bin) permit to a new property
If there is no garden waste bin at your new address, please tell us and we will deliver a bin free of charge. We will endeavour to deliver the bin to you within 14 working days of your request, subject to the property being occupied. To prevent any delay in continuing with the scheme please inform us at least 14 days prior to your move to a new address.
Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
What if I have a communal garden?
It is the responsibility of the management company or landlord to arrange the payment for the service.
Am I able to number or label my brown bin with my house number?
Yes, we would actively encourage the use of self-adhesive vinyl letters or numbers to label your bin and to distinguish it from your neighbours’ bins, this also assists in reducing the number of lost bins. You must not scratch, engrave, spray paint, or use any other method of permanent marking.
What can go in the brown garden waste bin?
You can find details further details on our using your brown bin page.
All garden waste should be put in your brown bin loose, not in bags or wrapped up.
Do you have more detailed terms and conditions?
Yes, you can read our full terms and conditions as a PDF or a Word document:
What if I already have an additional bin which I have been paying for, will I have to re-subscribe?
If you currently have an additional paid for brown bin, we will contact you separately regarding any outstanding balance from your existing subscription and will issue a refund.
You will need to create a new subscription for all bins you wish to keep beyond April 2025.
Can I put out garden waste in other containers for you to collect?
No, you must use your designated brown bin with the permit sticker clearly displayed.
What if I don’t want my brown bin?
If you don’t wish to subscribe to the new service and you want your brown bin removed, then please leave it outside your property either full or empty on the first usual scheduled collection day between 1st April and 11th April. Our teams will then start removing those bins which have been left out and don’t have a valid permit attached.
If you wish to keep your brown bin for the time being for your own use or in case you wish to subscribe later in the year or use the pay as you go service, then you can do so, but please ensure it is kept within the confines of your property and we will not then remove it. If you would like us to remove your brown bin at any point after the 11th April 2025 then you can request to return your brown bin to the Council by clicking the button below. Please note that the button below will open in a new window.
If you do not want to use the garden waste service in 2025, you’ll need to find other ways to manage your garden waste. You can:
Use the Council’s Garden Waste pay as you go collection service where you can either get up to five bags of garden waste removed for £57.32 per collection here, or empty your garden waste bin for £12.99 per collection here. The £12.99 collection is a pay as you go service. If you require 3 or less collections per year this would work out less than the £50 annual subscription as shown below:
1 collection per year is £12.99
2 collections per year are £25.98
3 collections per year are £38.97
Four collections or more would cost more than the annual Garden Waste Collection Service subscription of £50. Please keep hold of your brown bin to use this service.
You can also:
- Take your garden waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
- Compost at home, The Suffolk Waste Partnership has teamed up with Get Composting, offering you discounts on home composting bins or you can visit our Suffolk Recycles page which provides further information on community composting, home composting and Master Composter volunteering.
What will happen to the bins that get returned?
The Council will collect the bins with the purpose of storing and re-issuing these wherever possible.
Will you still collect Christmas trees?
The Council will continue to offer a Christmas tree recycling service.