Garden waste
Due to the ongoing extreme heat, our waste collection crews will start their routes at 5.30am to ensure their health and safety in the high temperatures. We ask all residents to place their bins out the night before their scheduled collection day. Thank you for your understanding.
Garden waste subscription 25-26You can now sign up to or renew a garden waste subscription for weekly garden waste collection from 3 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The subscription is £96.02:
For any other enquires contact us by email at gardenwaste@lewisham.gov.uk.
Garden waste collections
Our annual garden waste collection provides convenient and eco-friendly waste disposal, saving time and effort, while supporting a cleaner environment and contributing to local sustainability initiatives.
When can I sign up for the garden waste collection service?
Garden waste subscriptions are open. The subscription year runs until 31 March 2026. You can sign up at any time during the subscription year. If you start your subscription later in the year, you'll pay the same price as for a full year.
When you pay for a subscription, you agree to the Garden Waste Collection Service terms and conditions. Please read the Garden Waste terms and conditions carefully.
How to pay
You can pay for an annual garden waste collection service by Direct Debit, or in one lump sum.
There are differences in the renewal process dependent on how you choose to pay:
Direct Debit
- if you've signed up to pay by Direct Debit, we will collect £25.52, followed by three payments of £23.50
PayNow
- you can pay for your garden waste collection subscription annually in one easy payment of £96.02
- if you're an existing PayNow customer, you can renew your subscription
If you need assistance with your renewal, contact us on 020 8314 9756.
When you sign up for a garden waste subscription, you will receive
- 240L bin - if you're a new customer, you'll receive a 240-litre brown bin within 10 working days - however, this can change if there's high demand
- permit sticker - new customers and existing customers will be issued a garden waste permit sticker which lets collection crews know that you have a current subscription – you must put the sticker on your garden waste bin
- instructions on how to fix the permit sticker to your garden waste bin
If you have a garden waste bin and a valid sticker permit is not displayed, we will remove it. If you are not displaying a sticker because you did not receive one, please email us as soon as you can.
What can go in my garden waste bin?
- garden waste such as grass cuttings, weeds, small branches, and twigs - branches must be up to 10cm thick and 50cm long
- fallen fruit, flowers, hedge trimmings, leaves, plants, and weeds
Harmful weeds like Japanese knotweed are not accepted.
To ensure we can collect your garden waste
- put your bin out by 6am on your collection day
- make sure the bin is at the edge of your property, free of obstacles
- don't overfill your bin - if you have extra waste, keep it until the next collection
- bins must not weigh over 20kg
- bins should be in good condition and their wheels and lid should work - order a replacement bin if needed
For any issues with your bin please email gardenwaste@lewisham.gov.uk.
Points to consider
Renewing
You can renew your subscription from 1 April.
Cancelling
If you cancel within 14 days, you can get a refund. After that, the fee is non-refundable. To cancel, contact us at 020 8314 9756 (9am-4pm, Monday to Friday) or email gardenwaste@lewisham.gov.uk.
If you are on Direct Debit and do not wish to renew your subscription, please speak to your bank to cancel your direct debit as soon as possible. The first Direct Debit payment is scheduled to be collected on 31 May 2025.
Need an extra bin?
If you think you may need an additional bin, you'll need to subscribe for an additional collection.
Garden waste permit stickers
When you subscribe to the garden waste collection service, you will automatically receive a permit sticker for your garden waste bin. Please allow up to ten working days for the sticker to arrive via Royal Mail.
The sticker will include instructions on how to correctly affix it to your garden waste bin. Do not attempt to remove or reapply the sticker once it has been attached, as doing so will void the sticker. If you accidentally void the sticker or place it on the wrong bin, please contact us on and we will arrange for a replacement.
If you do not receive your sticker within ten working days, please contact us. Stickers must be attached to the bin so the collection team can easily identify your subscription and ensure collection.
If you don't pay for the service
Presenting an old garden waste bin without the correct permit could lead to removal of your bin, or a fine of up to £300.
If you don’t want to subscribe to a garden waste collection, you can:
- take it to the Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre
- compost it yourself at home
- hire a private contractor (make sure they are licensed)