MILLIONS of households across England are facing soaring bin collection fees, as councils increase charges by as much as 21%.
This month, residents have been hit with higher costs for green waste collection, with dozens of local authorities raising their annual fees.
Many councils charge households extra to collect their garden waste.
Usually residents pay an annual subscription, which covers the cost of collecting green bins every fortnight.
Councils often revise charges to keep up with rising expenses like fuel, vehicle maintenance and staff wages, but this year’s sharp hikes are hitting households harder than ever.
Some councils have pointed to increasing customer demand as another reason for the rising fees.
But The Sun’s deep dive into local authority budgets for 2025/26 reveals some councils are ramping fees up to £124 a year.
It’s not just bin collection costs piling on the pressure, though.
This month has been grimly dubbed “Awful April” as households grapple with a wave of surging bills.
Millions have already seen their council tax bills jump by as much as 15.6% across England, Scotland, and Wales.
In England, Bradford faced the steepest increase, with annual bills for a typical Band D property leaping by 10% – from £1,701.86 to £1,871.88 – leaving families struggling to cope.
Adding to the pressure, several local authorities will begin to charge for green waste collection for the first time.
However, it’s not all bad news.
A small number of lucky households still live in areas where garden waste collection remains free – at least for now.
Want to know if your council is increasing garden waste fees?
Here’s what you need to know…
Which councils are hiking garden waste fees?
The Sun has combed through 100 local authority budgets for 2025/26 to uncover which councils are hiking garden waste collection fees the most.
Calderdale Council has imposed the steepest percentage hike, with fees soaring by 21.74%.
The £10 increase takes the annual charge to £56, up from £46 last year.
Meanwhile, East Hertfordshire residents have seen their garden waste collection fee jump from £49 to £59 in 2025/26 – a 20.41% rise.
Which council’s don’t charge for garden waste?
ONLY 10 councils from our list of 100 still provide garden waste collection free of charge.
These include:
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Bolsover District Council
- Bolton Council
- Cambridge City Council
- City of Doncaster Council
- Cumberland Council
- Derby City Council
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Epping Forest District Council
Eastleigh Borough Council has also raised its fee by £10, increasing from £50 to £60, marking a 20% hike.
Additionally, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has upped its charge from £53 to £63, representing an 18.87% increase.
Nevertheless, East Hampshire District Council tops our list of 100 as the priciest local authority for garden waste collection, with residents now paying £124 per year.
This marks a modest 3.33% increase compared to the previous year.
Bromley Council in greater London will increase the cost to collect garden waste once a fortnight from £70 to £80 a year – a 14% increase.
Meanwhile, Charnwood Borough Council is pushing up its garden waste collection cost from £50 a year to £55 for residents who pay by direct debit.
This is a 10% increase.
Those who pay their bill with another method will be charged £60 a year – £5 more than last year.
In Epsom and Ewell the cost of new garden waste subscriptions and renewals will rise from £69.95 to £74.15 per bin each year – a 6% hike.
A handful of councils have opted for modest fee hikes, with Newark and Sherwood District Council introducing the smallest increase of just £1 – a rise of 2.7%.
Residents in this area have seen garden waste collection charges increase from £37 to £38.
Meanwhile, the cost of having a green waste bin in the Derbyshire Dales will rise by £2 – from £56 to £58 this week.
This is a 3.5% increase on the previous year.
Which councils are introducing fees for the first time?
Three local authorities have introduced garden waste charges for the first time this April, a service that was previously free.
Chelmsford City Council has introduced a £60 annual fee, while Stockport Council followed closely with a £59 yearly charge.
Defending the decision in Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat council leader Stephen Robinson remarked: “This is a really difficult decision for us, but it’s a lot easier than cutting services.”
Similarly, Stockport Council’s deputy leader, Mark Roberts, justified the changes, stating they are necessary to save money and safeguard “vital frontline” services, ensuring the continued operation of Stockport’s libraries and swimming pools.
East Staffordshire Council has now established its annual charge at £40.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association added: “Public satisfaction with local waste services remains very high.
“It should be for individual councils with their residents to decide how to carry out waste collections locally and whether the costs of providing green waste collection should be met by all taxpayers or just those that use the additional service.”
How do I know when my bin collection will be?
The date and time of your bin collection depends on your local council.
You can find out your rubbish collection day using the postcode searcher on the Government’s website.
The tool will tell you who your local council is.
You can then visit its website to find out when your bins will be collected and at what time you must put them out.
What council tax support is available?
THERE are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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