Decision details

The Council operates an annual Garden Waste Subscription Scheme for the collection of garden waste from the kerbside. The Scheme was first introduced on 5th August 2024.

The Garden Waste Subscription Scheme operates for 40 weeks per year, between early March and early December each year. If residents wish to subscribe to the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme, they pay an annual subscription fee which is charged on a per bin basis (residents can pay for more than one garden waste bin if they so wish). Collections are undertaken on a fortnightly basis so the fee covers up to 20 collections per year.

Therefore, there are a number of options available for residents in terms of garden waste and these are summarised below:-

• Subscribe to the service at the full fee
• Subscribe to the service at a 50% discounted fee (only applicable if specific qualifying criteria are met)
• Share a subscription with a neighbour (to reduce the cost of the service)
• Purchase a home composter to compost at home (specially discounted home compost bins can be purchased from the Council)
• Take garden waste materials, free of charge, to the two household waste recycling centres (HWRC’s) in York (Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe HWRC).

Although the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme was successfully introduced in August 2024, there is a need to update the information on discounts so this is clearly understood by all service users.

To make the qualifying criteria for the 2025 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme clear and unambiguous and based on a residents’ ability to pay for the service.

In 2025, a 50% discount on the Garden Waste Subscription Fee will be available for residents in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) or who are registered as SMI (Severe Mental Impairment).

The Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) relating to the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme has also been updated. The Council will update the terms and conditions of the service to reflect this amendment.

To further expand the criteria for discounts. The proposed qualification criteria ensures that discounts are applied and directly associated with residents’ ability to pay for the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme (therefore, discounts are only available for residents in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) or who are registered as SMI (Severe Mental Impairment).