Why recycle green garden waste?
On average each home in the Harrogate District produces 1 tonne of rubbish each year, and it's increasing.
The green waste collection aims to reduce the amount of garden waste in your normal refuse.
Organic waste in landfill sites decomposes anaerobically (without air) and causes build-ups of methane gas which must be monitored and controlled. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Composting is an aerobic (with air) process and an environmentally better way of dealing with garden waste.
The green waste collected will be turned into compost at a special site.
Where does the scheme take place?
Following a successful trial of 10,000 properties, the garden waste recycling scheme has now been extended to cover approx. 28,000 properties in the district. In the future, the scheme may be extended further subject to resources.
See our Frequently Asked Questions leaflet for more information
I live in an area receiving garden waste collections, how do I take part?
The brown lidded 240L bin, which has been delivered to your home, will be emptied once a fortnight. You will have received a calendar detailing which weeks your bin will be emptied, and a separate letter with your collection day on.
The green garden waste collection is the same day as the kerbside recycling scheme.
Please put your containers out to be collected in a safe easily visible position at the pavement/kerbside to the front of your property for 7.00am.
Please take them back as soon as possible after they have been emptied.
Please note we do have permission from North Yorkshire highways for containers to be out on the day of collection.
Pictures below show places we are able to collect your container from:
If you do not have a garden waste wheelie bin but would now like to take part in the scheme, please contact 0845 300 6091.
If you do not live in an area currently serviced by the garden waste wheelie bin scheme, please see our page on garden waste sacks.
I'm having problems with the scheme, what should I do?
Bank Holidays
There will be no kerbside recycling collections on the bank holidays. If your collection falls on a bank holiday please retain your garden waste and place it out on your next scheduled collection day. Alternatively, you may take it to one of the civic amenity sites or put it out for collection with your refuse in Harrogate Borough Council green sacks. The garden waste service is also suspended for 2 weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. Please refer to the calendar that the Council has issued to you for further information.
Other Changes
Disruption may also occur during bad weather and industrial action
Online Form
Please use our
online form to enquire about our garden waste wheelie bin service.