Liverpool green bin collection is a paid subscription: Liverpool City Council collects garden waste fortnightly from the last week of February to the last week of November, at £50 per bin per year (plus £25 if you need a new bin). It’s good value for steady, regular garden waste, but it isn’t designed for big one-off clearances or the winter months when there are no collections. Here’s how it works and what to do when it doesn’t fit.
How Liverpool green bin collection works
Garden waste collection in Liverpool isn’t free. To have it collected, you sign up to the council’s green bin service. Based on the council’s published details:
- It must be paid for, at £50 per bin per year.
- If you need a new bin, that costs £25 extra.
- Collections are fortnightly.
- The season runs from the last week of February to the last week of November.
- You can have up to five bins per property.
- Collected garden waste is composted.
Fees and dates can change from year to year, so check the current details and sign up on liverpool.gov.uk.
What can go in a Liverpool green bin?
The council accepts the usual soft garden waste:
- Grass cuttings
- Dead plants and flowers
- Leaves
- Small branches and hedge trimmings
Because the contents go for composting, keep plastic plant pots, bags, stones and general rubbish out. If you’re unsure about a particular item, check the council’s guidance before putting it in.
Is a green bin subscription worth it?
It’s a good fit if your garden produces a steady trickle of waste through spring, summer and autumn: regular lawn mowing, deadheading, weeding and the odd hedge trim. Fortnightly collections stop it piling up, and you don’t need to think about it.
It’s less suited to:
- Small gardens or yards. Many Liverpool terraces have small back yards that produce very little green waste.
- Occasional tidy-ups. If you only do a big clear-out once or twice a year, you may pay for a whole season to use it a few times.
- Big jobs. One bin every fortnight won’t keep up with an overgrown garden.
What to do with a big garden clearance
Overgrown gardens, cut-back hedges, felled shrubs and old sheds generate far more than a green bin can take. Squeezing it in over several months often isn’t practical. Your options are:
- Spread it over several collections, if the amount is only slightly over and you’re not in a hurry.
- Take it to a recycling centre yourself. Merseyside’s household recycling centres accept garden waste. If you’re using a van, pick-up or trailer over 2m, you’ll need a free permit from MRWA.
- Book a one-off garden waste collection. We’ll load everything, including mixed loads of green waste and general garden rubbish, and the price is agreed before you book.
- Hire a skip for very large, ongoing projects. Our guide to man with a van vs skip hire explains when each makes sense.
Many garden clearances also turn up non-green waste such as broken furniture, old pots, fencing panels or bags of rubble. That can’t go in a green bin, but it can usually go on the same van collection. We won’t take asbestos, chemicals, paint, gas bottles or clinical waste, so mention anything you’re unsure about when you get in touch.
What about December to February?
With no council garden waste collections from December to February, winter can be awkward. Leaves keep falling into early winter, storms bring down branches, and late-autumn pruning often happens just as collections finish. A few options:
- Bag and store it until collections restart in late February, if you have space.
- Home compost soft green waste such as leaves and plant material.
- Take it to a recycling centre, following MRWA’s rules and checking opening times first.
- Book a collection. We’re open 24 hours, seven days a week including bank holidays, so storm debris or a winter tidy-up doesn’t have to wait.
Tips for a smoother garden waste collection
- Cut long branches down so they’re easier to load.
- Keep soil and turf separate from light waste, as they’re much heavier.
- Tell us about access. A tight back yard or alley-only access is common in Liverpool, and it affects loading time.
- Send a few photos on WhatsApp so we can give you a fixed price first time.
The driver does all the lifting and loading, and we’re a licensed waste carrier, so your waste goes where it should. Our green waste collection in Liverpool page has more on how it works.
FAQs
How much is the Liverpool green bin subscription?
Liverpool City Council currently lists it at £50 per bin per year, with an extra £25 if you need a new bin. Fees can change, so check the latest price on liverpool.gov.uk before you sign up.
When does Liverpool green bin collection stop for winter?
Collections run fortnightly from the last week of February to the last week of November. That means there are no garden waste collections from December to February.
Can I put soil or turf in my green bin?
The council lists grass cuttings, dead plants, leaves and small branches as accepted. If something isn’t on the list, check liverpool.gov.uk before putting it in, as the waste is sent for composting.
Is it worth paying for a green bin if I only have a small garden?
It depends on how much garden waste you produce through the season. If it’s only a couple of tidy-ups a year, a one-off collection or a trip to a recycling centre may suit you better than an annual subscription.
If your garden’s produced more than the green bin can handle, or it’s the off-season, send us photos or call 07743 183272 for a free, fixed quote. We cover every Liverpool postcode plus Huyton, Crosby, Maghull, Prescot, Widnes and St Helens.