Garden waste collection in Bromley: council bin, tip or private clearance

What the Bromley Council garden waste service costsSection titled What%20the%20Bromley%20Council%20garden%20waste%20service%20costs

Bromley Council's garden waste collection is a paid subscription for residents of the borough. According to the council's green garden waste page, it costs £80 for 12 months and includes a 240-litre wheelie bin. Collections are every two weeks from March to November and monthly from December to February. You sign up or renew through the council's online application form, and the bin arrives in about two weeks.

The subscription terms and conditions add that the minimum term is 12 months, renewal falls one year after your first payment, and early termination is not refunded. Direct Debit is the preferred payment method. You can have up to six containers per subscription, with extra containers pro-rated from the full-year price plus delivery. We could not find a published concession on those pages, so ask the council if you think you may qualify for one. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official pages before you subscribe.

What can and cannot go in the garden waste binSection titled What%20can%20and%20cannot%20go%20in%20the%20garden%20waste%20bin

The council's list says the bin takes:

• Grass cuttings
• Leaves
• Prunings and hedge trimmings
• Small branches and twigs

No bags or sacks are needed. It does not take:

• Rubble or soil
• Food or household waste
• Flower pots or anything made of plastic
• Garden furniture
• Tree trunks or large branches

Under the terms and conditions, a bin contaminated with other items or burnt contents will not be emptied.

Taking garden waste to the tipSection titled Taking%20garden%20waste%20to%20the%20tip

The Churchfields Road Reuse and Recycling Centre accepts garden waste, including wood from pruning and gardening, and the council says household and garden waste can be disposed of free of charge during opening hours. You need to book a visit in advance: each household can make one booking a day and up to two a week. Soil and turf count as DIY waste, so limits and charges apply. The page lists up to 100 litres per visit free, up to four free visits per household in a 4-week period, then £4.00 per 50-litre bag or item, by card only. Commercial or sign-written vehicles are not permitted.

Other Bromley sites have been changing, so check the council's garden waste page for current arrangements before you travel.

Council bin vs private garden clearance at a glanceSection titled Council%20bin%20vs%20private%20garden%20clearance%20at%20a%20glance

When the council bin is enoughSection titled When%20the%20council%20bin%20is%20enough

The bin suits you if most of these apply:

• You cut the grass and trim hedges regularly through the season
• Your waste is mainly grass, leaves and prunings that fit in a 240-litre bin
• You can leave the bin at the edge of your property on collection day
• You would rather pay once a year than make trips to the tip

When a private clearance is the better optionSection titled When%20a%20private%20clearance%20is%20the%20better%20option

A private clearance is usually more practical when:

• The garden is overgrown and needs cutting back before anything can be removed
• You have more than the bin holds, or a one-off load
• You have soil, turf, rubble, fencing or garden furniture, which the council bin does not take
• There is a house sale or tenancy deadline
• Nobody is able to do the cutting, bagging and carrying

Which option fits your gardenSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20garden

Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions

Is garden waste collection free in Bromley?Section titled Is%20garden%20waste%20collection%20free%20in%20Bromley%3F

No. Bromley's wheelie bin collection is a paid subscription, currently £80 for 12 months. Garden waste can be taken to the Churchfields Road centre free of charge during opening hours, but you need to book a visit. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official pages before you subscribe.

What if my garden waste will not fit in the bin?Section titled What%20if%20my%20garden%20waste%20will%20not%20fit%20in%20the%20bin%3F

The council pages we read do not say whether extra bags beside the bin are collected, so do not assume they will be. You can add more containers (up to six per subscription, pro-rated), take the surplus to the recycling centre, or book a private garden clearance.

Can the council take a one-off load of garden waste?Section titled Can%20the%20council%20take%20a%20one-off%20load%20of%20garden%20waste%3F

We could not find a one-off garden waste collection on the council pages we read. The Churchfields Road centre takes garden waste by booking, or we can collect a one-off load from your garden.

Related servicesSection titled Related%20services

• Garden Clearance
• Rubbish Removal
• Shed Clearance