Garden waste collection service terms and conditions

1. Service

1.1 The green waste collection service is undertaken 50 weeks of the year for households that maintain their own gardens. The service is suspended for 2 weeks after the last Friday before Christmas. RBC reserves the right to alter collections if required provided adequate notice is given to householders.

1.2 The collections are fortnightly on an allocated day (except for bank holidays)

1.3 The service is for a 12 month period commencing on the date of your payment.

1.4 Residents are required to purchase garden waste containers for their property from the Council.

1.5 The collection scheme is for domestic properties only. Commercial properties and activities are excluded from the scheme.

1.6 Council officers will verify whether green bins or bags have been purchased for a property (or if the Council has received notification of moving house) before allowing the property to join the scheme.

2. Payment

2.1 There is an annual non-refundable collection charge of £75 per annum for a maximum of two garden waste bins and £30 for a maximum of two garden waste bags. The collection of one garden waste bin plus one garden waste bag will be charged at £75 per annum.

2.2 Reduced charges are available to residents in receipt of Council Tax Support.

2.3 Payment is required annually in advance. Failure to pay the full annual charge for the service will automatically result in the service ending without notice.

2.4 Payment can be made online or via telephone by debit or credit card.

2.5 The garden waste charges will be reviewed annually.

2.6 No refunds will be issued if a resident moves out of the borough or if they stop using the service part way through the collection year.

2.7 The resident has 14 working days from receipt of payment to notify the Council that they wish to cancel the service and will receive a full refund.

2.8 These terms and conditions do not affect the resident’s statutory rights.

3. Green Waste Collection

3.1 All garden waste material must be placed loose in the containers, no plastic bags of any kind may be placed in them, and the lid must be closed for safety reasons. Extra waste presented at the side of or on top of garden waste bins and bags will not be collected.

3.2 If the garden waste is too compacted and will not come out of the garden waste bin or bag when tipped, it will be the resident’s responsibility to loosen and/or remove the waste before the next scheduled collection.

3.3 Green garden waste bins which are too heavy for the crew or the collection vehicle to handle will not be emptied and will need to be lightened by the resident before the next collection.

3.4 Garden waste bins or bags containing items other than those stated at www.reading.gov.uk/recycling will not be emptied.

3.5 We reserve the right to refuse to collect green waste bins.

3.6 The council accepts no liability for bins/sacks used for any other purpose other than for the collection of garden waste. Residents use the garden waste bins/bags at their own risk.

3.7 Garden waste bins or bags containing food waste (including fruit and vegetables from your garden) will not be emptied. It is the resident’s responsibility to remove the incorrect items and present the bin or bag for the next scheduled collection.

3.8 Garden waste bins/bags must be presented at the curtilage of the property with the handles facing the road and away from the other grey and red bins by 6am on the morning of collection and returned to your property after collection. The Council will not return to properties that have not presented their garden waste containers on the correct day and time until the next scheduled collection day.

3.9 Residents are responsible for ensuring that there are no parked cars belonging to their household or visitors which impede access for waste collection vehicles on collection day. If bins cannot be collected on the due day they will not be emptied until the next collection.

Only containers that have been genuinely missed by the collection crew will be returned to before the next scheduled collection. Containers which have not been presented by the stipulated time will not be returned to. Missed bin reports will be verified by the crew records.

3.10 We offer assisted collections to households with elderly and/or infirm residents who do not have an able bodied person in the household to present the bins at the kerbside.

3.11 During cold spells, garden waste may freeze and prevent the Council from emptying the contents of your bin or bag. It may not be possible to fully empty your bin or bag until the next scheduled collection day when temperatures have risen. During periods of extreme/adverse weather the Council reserves the right to suspend collections. No subscription money will be refunded. Notice of this will be posted on our website.

3.12 It is the resident’s responsibility for replacing lost, stolen or damaged garden waste bins or bags with the exception of any garden waste bins or bags which are lost or damaged as a result of the collection. These will be replaced free of charge.

3.13 The Council reserves the right to amend the collection frequency and time of collections at any time and for any reason.

3.14 The Council will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of our obligations if the delay or failure results from events or circumstances outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, strikes, lock-outs, accidents, war, fire, extreme weather conditions or breakdown of plant or machinery.

4. Variation of Terms

4.1 We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time and without notification.

5. Data Protection

5.1 We will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We will not share your personal data with third parties without your permission. The data you provide in order to receive a chargeable garden waste service will be kept secure in the council’s databases and may be used.

5.2 We will only use the personal details you have provided for this service to contact you by letter, telephone, text messages, or email for matters related to the garden waste service and to inform you of any similar service provided by the council that may be of interest to you.

5.3 You may tell us at any time if you don’t want to receive marketing communications from us by writing to us providing your full name and address.