London councils vary wildly in garden waste collection fees. Some charge up to £101 yearly, while others offer free service.
Gardens are rare in some London areas, and maintaining one costs money and effort. You have to buy tools, flowers, and maybe a mower. Disposing of waste isn’t always free in London, as some boroughs charge to take your garden waste away.
MyLondon checked all the London boroughs’ costs to provide a price comparison for each area. As of March 7, 2025, only six boroughs offer free pickup: Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Hillingdon. Note that Tower Hamlets skips flats, and Hillingdon is considering a £70 fee for 2025/26.
Westminster doesn’t offer garden waste collection directly; instead, residents should take waste to a recycling point.
Many boroughs charge yearly fees per bin or bag. Waste bag rules differ across boroughs, so it’s important to check your council’s specific details. Extra bins usually cost the same as the first one.
Newham charges £40 a year, or £5 for a single pickup. Barking and Dagenham charge £50 annually, while Brent is £69 each year. Harrow costs £69 yearly, with people on support paying £34.50. Bromley asks £70 for 12 months, and Islington’s fee is £75 a year. Camden charges £75 for 12 months or £60 for 9, and offers aid for people on benefits.
Bexley charges £75 yearly, with a £70 rate for Direct Debit. Each extra bin costs £55, and up to four are allowed. Hounslow is £75 per year, or £37.50 with a council tax cut. Kensington and Chelsea charge £75.90 annually, with those receiving benefits paying £55.90. Lambeth wants £80.90 for 12 months, and Croydon’s fee is £83 yearly. Haringey charges £84 for a big bin, or £63 for sacks. Southwark charges £84 each year.
Hackney asks £85 for 12 months, and Sutton costs £86.54 annually. Havering’s yearly cost is £87, while Merton charges £89.78 each year. Hammersmith and Fulham’s rate is £90 per year. Lewisham’s fee is £93.50 each year, a price that began in August 2024.
Ealing charges £98.20 annually for a bin, and compostable sacks cost £49.25 a roll. For Richmond, a bin costs £90, plus a £38 fee to buy it outright, while sacks cost £22.70 for 10. Enfield costs £100 per year, and Barnet also charges £100 yearly. Kingston charges £101 for 12 months, plus £18 per bin.
Ealing, Richmond, Enfield, and Kingston are particularly pricey. To avoid these costs, consider using a recycling center, but always remember to check opening times and specific rules.