Garden waste subscriptions open today for another year of collections, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Since launching as a chargeable service in March 2024, garden waste collections have proved popular among Braintree district residents, with 37,388 subscriptions purchased for the 2025/26 service.
Thanks to the high take-up of the service, the Council has been able to freeze the cost of an annual subscription for the second year running. This remains at £55, which provides fortnightly collections all year round, with a break over Christmas and New Year. Those with larger gardens can purchase additional bins at £37.25 each, plus a subscription fee of £30 per bin. Properties that are unsuitable for bin collections can purchase special compostable sacks for garden waste collection, at £8 per roll of 20 sacks, which includes the cost of delivery and collection.
All subscribers receive a fortnightly collection of green waste such as grass cuttings, weeds, dead flowers and plants, leaf-fall and hedge and shrub cuttings. This waste is then sent for windrow composting at a nearby facility.
Those who subscribed online this year and did not opt out of autorenewal will have payment taken and their subscriptions automatically renewed in early March, making the service seamless and hassle-free.
Residents who subscribed by phone or in person will need to take action to renew, either online or by phone, if they wish to continue with the service after 31 March 2026.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services and Deputy Leader at Braintree District Council, said: “We are very satisfied with the success of the garden waste subscription service, and delighted that we have been able to keep the costs stable during a time of increased financial pressure on households. It is really encouraging that so many of our residents choose to dispose of their garden waste responsibly. If you haven’t signed up yet, we would encourage doing so online – it’s easy and quick, and your subscription will be automatically renewed next year.”