Almost 30,000 households have signed up so far for a subscription service to have their garden waste collected by a Cumbrian council.
The deadline for people to sign up to the subscription service from Westmorland & Furness Council is this Sunday, June 28.
The council said as of this morning, Friday June 26, so far 29,837 households are now signed up to the service, equating to 34,514 subscriptions across Westmorland and Furness.
People have been able to sign up since April 1.
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.
From June 29, only bins displaying a valid subscription sticker will be emptied.
General household waste and recycling collections are not affected.
The breakdown of subscriptions taken out are as follows:
- Eden 7,248 (21%)
- Furness 7,766 (22.5%)
- South Lakeland 19,500 (56.5%)
When Cumbria Crack asked how many households were eligible, the council 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.
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 February 26, 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.
Councillor Adrian Waite, Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet member for environmental services and transport, said: “It’s been encouraging to see so many residents already signed up to the new service.
“As we move through June, we want to remind anyone who still intends to subscribe to do so before the deadline. Signing up now will make sure your garden waste collections continue without interruption beyond the end of the month.
“We recognise that this is a change for residents. However, introducing a subscription helps us protect the essential services people rely on, while managing the ongoing financial pressures facing the council.”
To subscribe, visit westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 0300 373 3300.
