10,600 households have signed up so far for a subscription service to have their garden waste collected by a Cumbrian council.
Westmorland & Furness Council agreed to introduce the subscription – charging people £60 per bin per year – as part of a raft of measures to help it face significant financial challenges.
The garden waste subscription service began on April 1 and people can sign up until June 28.
From June 29, only bins displaying a valid subscription sticker will be emptied.
General household waste and recycling collections are not affected.
Cumbria Crack asked the council how many households had signed up so far.
The authority said: “We’ve had a really positive response so far, with more than 10,600 households already subscribing to the service, equating to over 12,000 subscriptions to date across Westmorland and Furness.”
When we asked how many households were eligible, the authority told us that there were over 119,000 households in Westmorland & Furness.
It said all households were eligible but added: “It is important to recognise there are a large proportion of properties in the area which are terraced homes or flats and may not require the service.”
People signing up for the first time and who do not currently have a garden waste bin will receive their first bin for free.
Additional bins can be bought for a one‑off fee of £25 each, and every bin – including the first – requires an annual subscription.
Councillor Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet member for climate, biodiversity and environmental services, said: “We know that a growing number of residents have already signed up, and we’re grateful to those who have taken the time to do so.
“We also recognise that some people may still be considering their options and this is a reminder for those residents who want to make sure their garden waste continues to be collected uninterrupted.
“We understand that introducing a charge has been a significant change. This decision was not taken lightly but it helps us protect the essential services that residents rely on most, at a time when local government continues to face substantial financial pressures.”
Garden waste collections will continue on fortnightly from April to March, with a pause during December, January and February, when garden waste levels are typically at their lowest.
The authority said garden waste collection was a discretionary service, and the introduction of a subscription, agreed as part of the council’s 2026/27 budget at a meeting of Full Council on 26 February, ensured that those who used the service contributed to its cost.
For residents who choose not to subscribe, alternatives such as home composting and taking garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre remained available, it added.
The introduction of the garden waste subscription is the first phase of a wider programme to harmonise waste and recycling services across Westmorland and Furness.
To subscribe, visit westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 0300 373 3300.
