Garden waste service terms and conditions

The council reserves the right to modify any terms and conditions of the garden waste service at any time without notice. By paying for the service, you accept the following terms and conditions:

1.    The collection period for the fortnightly garden waste service is from March to early December (collections will not take place during December, January and February)

2.    You agree to pay North Yorkshire Council a fee to collect your garden waste. The cost is a one-off annual fee and is irrespective of when you pay for the scheme. Upon the council receiving payment, you will be issued with a licence in the form of a sticker which must be displayed on the back of your bin. Please allow up to 14 days for your licence to arrive.

3.    Each garden waste licence entitles you to have one 240-litre garden waste wheelie bin collected fortnightly. One licence is required per garden waste bin and only bins provided by the council that display a valid licence will be collected. There are no concessions.

4.    If you need to order a garden waste wheelie bin as part of your service, the council will aim to deliver this within 14 days of receiving payment.

5.    Sacks may be issued to properties that cannot accommodate a wheelie bin (for example, lack of access). If you are offered a sack collection, you will be provided with these. You will still need to buy a licence but will not need to display it.

6.    You may pay at any time during the collection period, subject to service capacity. However, there will be no reductions for part-year payments.

7.    You have the right to cancel within 14 days of purchasing a licence. If you exercise your right to cancel but have received at least one collection, you will not be entitled to any refund.

8.    You may cancel your licence at any time during the collection period. However, there will be no refunds or part refunds for the cancellation of the service part way through the collection period.

9.    The garden waste service is only valid for the property of which it was originally purchased and is non-transferable. We cannot offer a refund if you move within or outside of the county or to a property where you no longer require the garden waste service. You may leave your service for the new occupants if there is any term remaining.

10.    Bins should be presented at the kerbside or your collection point by 6am on the day of collection, unless alternative arrangements have been made. Please check your collection calendar online. This will include details of any changes to collections over bank holiday periods.

11.    Garden waste bins should be removed from the public highway (including pavements, footways, verges, etc.) as soon as possible after collection.

12.    At times, the council may need to make changes to a collection point. We will let you know in advance if you are affected.

13.    Missed collections should be reported to the council within 48 hours. You can report a missed collection online or by calling 0300 131 2 131. Should collections be missed due to circumstances beyond the council’s control, every effort will be made to re-schedule the collection. No refunds or part refunds will be issued for missed collections.

14.    If there is evidence of misuse of the service or the garden waste wheelie bin by you or any resident or visitor to your household, the service may be cancelled, and the bin removed.

15.    The council reserves the right to alter collections if required. During periods of severe weather, the council reserves the right to suspend collections. Notice of this will be posted on our website. No refunds or part refunds will be given in these circumstances.

16.    The council reserves the right to vary the charge and service on an annual basis. If your collection day changes, you will receive prior notification of this.

17.    All garden waste must be contained within the bins (the colour of your bin may be green or brown depending on where you live in North Yorkshire) or sacks provided by the council. Any waste not contained in a bin or sack provided by the council will not be collected. You can order additional bins online (payment for an additional licence will be required).

18.    Garden waste bins remain the property of the council. You may be responsible for the cost of replacement for any loss/damage to the council’s bins other than that caused by the emptying process.

19.    The council can withdraw the service if a risk assessment shows it may cause an unacceptable risk to our collection crews or vehicles and an alternative collection point cannot be agreed upon.

20.    The council reserves the right not to empty or collect any bin or container that, in its reasonable opinion, poses a health and safety risk to the collection operatives or is overflowing or overweight. A notice will be placed on the bin by the crew to identify it as being overweight when they are either not able to move the bins, or the vehicle is not able to lift the bin to empty it. If the bin is too full or overweight, it is your responsibility to remove items before the next collection. If you fail to do so, the council may remove the bin.

21.    An assisted collection is available for residents who are physically unable to manage the garden waste wheelie bin and there is nobody living at the premises capable of moving it. If this service is already in place for your refuse and recycling, it will automatically be arranged for your garden waste.

22.    Lids of wheeled bins containing garden waste must be fully closed. The council reserves the right not to empty containers when the lids are not fully closed as this may cause damage to the lids while being emptied.

23.    Only garden waste may be placed, loose, in your garden waste bin. This is what can and can’t be put in the bins:

Yes please

• Cut flowers, plants and weeds
• Grass cuttings
• Hay and straw (no animal bedding)
• Hedge clippings
• Leaves and bark
• Small branches/prunings
• Windfall (fruit from garden)

No thanks

• Ash
• Cardboard or paper
• Disposable nappies
• Food waste (including fruit and vegetable peelings)
• General household rubbish
• Pet waste
• Plant pots
• Plastic bags (including compostable/biodegradable)
• Rubble, soil, stones and turf
• Wood

24.    Contaminated bins (bins containing incorrect material) will not be emptied and a notice will be placed on the bin identifying why it has not been emptied. If the bin is contaminated, it is your responsibility to remove the items of contamination before your next collection. If the contamination continues, the council may remove the bin. Refunds or part-refunds will not be given for bins that are not collected due to contamination.

25.    The council reserves the right to refuse an application for a garden waste licence.

26.    The council will contact you to advise you when the service opens next year.

27.    These terms and conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales.

28.    The council reserves the right to end these terms and conditions at any time and for whatever reason by giving you one month's notice of termination.