Every household in the Stroud District can now access the council’s garden waste collection service following a fleet expansion that allows collections from even the most remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The service already helps around 18,000 households recycle their garden waste. However, some properties have been unable to take part because large collection vehicles could not access narrow roads or rural lanes.
To solve this, the council has introduced a smaller collection vehicle and a new kerbside compostable sack system designed specifically for locations with very limited access.
Instead of the standard brown garden waste wheelie bins used elsewhere, eligible properties will receive compostable sacks, which will be collected by a pick-up style vehicle. This means all homes across the district can now benefit from a convenient garden waste service.
Residents living at properties that cannot be serviced by a vehicle fitted with a bin lift will be offered the new compostable sack scheme.
Subscriptions are now open, with collections beginning 30 March 2026.
The service includes:
- Fortnightly collections running until the end of November
- A supply of 50 compostable sacks per year
- 25 sacks provided at the start of the subscription
- A further 25 sacks available on request once the first batch has been used
To help avoid unnecessary travel to remote locations, all collections must be pre-booked.
Residents can book up to two sacks per collection, which should be filled to the marked line and folded closed to prevent spillage. Full instructions will be provided to subscribers.
For the majority of households, the standard brown garden waste bin service will continue as normal.
Subscriptions for 2026 are now open and cost £58.50 per year, with a one-off £20 charge for new customers who need a bin.
Residents can check whether their property is eligible for the bin service or the compostable sack service on the council’s garden waste webpage.
Accepted items include:
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves and weeds
- Hedge clippings and shrub prunings
- Twigs and small branches
- Bark
- Cut flowers and house plants
- Untreated sawdust or wood shavings
Food waste should not be placed in garden waste bins or compostable sacks.
Instead, it should go in the grey food waste caddy. Replacement caddies can be collected from Ebley Mill during office hours or ordered online through the council’s waste container service.
Subsidised home compost bins are available at: https://www.gloucestershirerecycles.com/reduce/composting
Cllr Martin Pearcy, chair of SDC’s Environment Committee, said: “This is great news for residents who currently cannot access our garden waste service. The investment in our waste service supports the Council Plan objective of helping people increase recycling rates and ensures we comply with new government rules to standardise recycling.
“Residents in Gloucestershire can also buy a subsidised compost bin made from recycled plastic, to use in addition to, or instead of, the garden waste service. It’s a great way to turn kitchen and garden waste into nutrient‑rich compost for their own gardens.”
