Council proposes update to Garden Waste Subscription Scheme for 2026

City of York Council is set to consider an update to its garden waste subscription service at the Executive meeting on 2 December 2025.

The proposal includes an increase in the annual subscription fee from £49 to £52 for the 2026 season, in line with North Yorkshire Council and to help cover rising service costs.

The garden waste subscription service, introduced in August 2024, has proven popular with residents, with around 40,000 households currently subscribed. The service operates for 40 weeks each year, providing fortnightly collections from March to December.

The proposed increase will help ensure the sustainability of the service, which is not a statutory requirement under the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012. Charging for garden waste collections allows the council to maintain this valued service while protecting other essential services.

Residents in receipt of Council Tax Support or registered as having severe mental impairment will continue to receive a 50 per cent discount.

Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “By aligning our charges with neighbouring authorities including North Yorkshire and ensuring the service is financially sustainable, we can continue to offer residents a convenient and environmentally friendly option for kerbside collection of garden waste. We are now also able to offer the service to new developments and are collecting expressions of interest from anyone who was previously unable to receive the garden waste service, in order to explore the viability of further expansion. We remain committed to providing discounts for those who need them most.”

Alternative options for disposing of garden waste remain available, including home composting and free disposal at Household Waste Recycling Centres at Hazel Court and Towthorpe. Discounted compost bins are also available for £15.

Residents will be able to subscribe the 2026 Garden Waste Subscription Scheme on Monday 12 January, ahead of the service starting again in March.

For more information about the garden waste subscription service, visit www.york.gov.uk/GardenWaste  or sign up for waste updates at www.york.gov.uk/EmailUpdates.