Frequently Asked Questions
Please find the answers to some frequently asked questions below:
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When can I sign up?
From 4 November, new subscribers to the service can sign up online or over the phone. Those wishing to renew their service to continue past 4 March will also be able to do so from 4 November.
There is no sign-up deadline, but if you don’t renew an existing contract before 4 March 2024 then your service will pause until you renew.
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When will I get my new bin?
You can expect your new brown bin to arrive within two to four weeks of signing up for the service.
If you are renewing your service, you will be able to continue using your current bin.
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Can I start using my new bin when it has been delivered?
You can start using your new bin straight away. Garden waste will only be collected if it’s in the brown bin.
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What is the cost of the service?
The annual fee is:
- £69 for a standard-sized bin
- £45 for a smaller bin
If you receive Council Tax Reduction (CTR), you may be entitled to a discount. If this is the case, the annual fee will be:
- £54 for a standard-sized bin
- £30 for a smaller bin
You won’t need to pay any separate costs for the bin.
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How do I pay?
When you sign up online, you’ll be prompted to pay the full amount for one year.
You can also choose to set up an annual direct debit payment - we will give you 10 working days’ notice before taking future payments. This year's payment will be taken on 1 March 2024.
Detailed terms and conditions will be available to view when you sign up.
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Can I pay by monthly Direct Debit?
We currently aren’t able to accept payment via a monthly direct debit.
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In receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
If you receive Council Tax Reduction (CTR), there is a discount on the cost of garden waste service. This discount does not apply to those receiving a Single Person Discount (or any other council tax discounts or exemptions) unless they also receive CTR.
Please see 'What is the cost for the new service?' above and call our customer service centre, who will take your details and confirm if a discount applies.
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How big are the bins?
The standard sized bin (240l) is 1m high, 70cm deep and 60cm wide
(Equivalent to around 2.7 garden waste bags)
The smaller bin(140l) is 1m high, 55cm deep and 50cm wide.
(Equivalent to around 1.6 garden waste bags)
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Can I continue with my garden waste bag?
No - however, if you have a council-approved bag system due to accessibility reasons or the type of house frontage that you have, you will be able to continue with a bag system.
In this case will still need to pay for the scheme - £45 for up to two bags and £69 for up to three bags (equivalent to standard bin).
There are some additional council-approved locations where, for operational reasons, there’s no room for an additional bin – these locations will continue to operate with a bag collection on the same charged-for basis described as above.
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Where else can I take my waste?
You are able to take your garden waste free of charge to the Household Waste Recycling Centres, or you can compost it at home. Find out more here: www.getcomposting.com
Note: If garden waste is added to your residual (general) waste bin, it will not be collected.
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How long does the service last for?
The service runs from 4 March 2024 to 28 February 2025. You can sign up at any time and will need to renew your subscription each year, either by a one-off payment or by Direct Debit.
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Can I share a bin?
Sharing your garden waste bin with a neighbour is a good way to reduce costs. If you choose to do so, you and your neighbour will share responsible for any management of bin space and payment.
We will also only be able to deal with a single point of contact from whoever is the lead neighbour.
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Will you still collect Christmas trees?
Christmas trees will continue to be collected from all properties in the weeks after Christmas.
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Will assisted collections continue?
If you currently receive an assisted collection and sign up to the new service, you will continue to receive an assisted collection.
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Can I downsize my other bins?
Yes - call our Customer Service team on 0300 300 0013 to request to downsize your other bins.
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Why is Garden Waste collection not included as part of my council tax bill?
Many residents in Winchester district don’t have gardens, or prefer to dispose of the waste themselves. For this reason, it is a service that is optional for those who would like the service and not paid for via council tax. (For information about your council tax bill you can find it here Council Tax Charges 2024-25 - Winchester City Council)
Most councils in Hampshire have now moved to an optional charged-for scheme. The scheme is not run at profit and covers the cost of the service. We ensure that the cost is benchmarked against other councils and the cost of our scheme is one of the lowest in Hampshire.
Garden waste bin license questions
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Garden waste licence bin stickers
To ensure that we know who has paid for the collection and which bins to collect for the year from 4 March 2024 to 3 March 2025, everyone who has signed up for the service for the fourth year, or has signed up to the service for the first time this year, is being sent a garden waste licence sticker to attach to their bin.
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How do I get the sticker?
The sticker will arrive through the post to the property where the service has been paid for.
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Where do I put the sticker?
The sticker comes with instructions on how to attach it, but you should peel the sticker from the backing and then place it below the handles of your brown garden waste bin onto a clean dry surface, and smooth out any bubbles. It may help to clean the area with soapy water allow to dry before applying the sticker.
So that it is easy for the collection crew to see the sticker when they collect the bins, the bins should be presented with the handles facing towards the road.
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Do I get more than one sticker if I have more than one bin?
Yes – you get a sticker per bin.
Each bin needs to have a sticker visible to ensure it is emptied.
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I’ve just renewed, how long will it take me to get my sticker?
All stickers should be delivered within six weeks of payment for the service.