Terms and conditions
Duration
A paid Garden Waste subscription runs for 12 months from the service commencement date. The subscription may be renewed annually.
Service commencement
Bins ordered and paid for by the 20th of the month will aim to be delivered within 10 working days (usually by the end of the same calendar month). You can check your collection cycle on our website.
Bins ordered after the 20th of the month will aim to be delivered within 10 working days, but will usually be delivered in the following month. For example, a bin ordered on 21 August would typically be delivered in early September.
Please note that the service commencement date, or delivery date of your garden waste bin, may not be the same as the date of your first collection.
Please contact us if your garden waste bin has not been delivered within 10 working days.
Cost
The annual garden waste service fee applies to the collection of garden waste. All bins and sacks remain the property of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.
Additional garden waste subscriptions will expire on the anniversary of the original subscription, regardless of when they were purchased.
Fees for each financial year will be published from March.
Payments cover a 12‑month garden waste service period from the start of a new subscription. Renewal payments cover the 12‑month period following the anniversary of the original subscription date.
The Council reserves the right to vary the subscription charge, usually on an annual basis. Non‑payment will result in suspension of the service, and bins or sacks may be removed.
If bins or sacks cannot be recovered, the customer may be charged the cost of replacement together with an administration fee.
All payments are non‑refundable. No refunds will be issued for cancellation or withdrawal during the subscription period.
Ways to pay
Payment must be made by credit or debit card. The Council may introduce additional payment methods, including recurring card payments or direct debit, in the future
Service suspension and cancellation by the Council
If payment is not received, the Council will issue a reminder invoice 14 days after the subscription renewal invoice. If the account remains unpaid, a final reminder will be issued after a further 14 days.
If payment is not received within 7 days of the final reminder, the garden waste subscription will be suspended without further notice. During suspension, garden waste presented for collection will not be collected.
If payment remains outstanding 7 days after suspension, the Council will arrange, without further notice, for the removal of the garden waste bin or hessian sacks.
The Council reserves the right to recover any outstanding charges and may instruct third parties to do so.
Additional bins
Up to two additional garden waste subscriptions may be purchased per property, allowing a maximum of three bins or sets of sacks in total.
All additional subscriptions will expire on the anniversary of the original subscription, regardless of the date they were purchased.
Cancellation
The service can be cancelled at any time before the bin is delivered. Once the bin is delivered then the contract is instigated and is not refundable.
Refunds are not available for withdrawing from the scheme during the subscription year.
The service
Garden waste is collected fortnightly and the service covers a 12‑month period. Collections may be suspended over the Christmas and New Year period and in other circumstances, including severe weather or force majeure events. Collections continue on other bank holidays. Where possible, advance notice will be provided; however, no refunds will be issued in these circumstances.
The contract for the service is between the Council and the customer. Garden waste will only be collected from properties subscribed to the service and from containers supplied by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.
Subscribers will receive a 240‑litre brown wheeled bin for garden waste. Where wheeled bins are not suitable (subject to assessment), three 90‑litre hessian sacks will be provided. A 140‑litre bin is available on request at no reduced cost.
Missed collections must be reported within two working days of the scheduled collection date. Reports received after this time will not be actioned, and the bin or sacks will be emptied on the next scheduled collection.
Property assessment
The Council reserves the right to assess whether a property is suitable for wheeled bin collections. A property will be considered suitable unless:
- there is insufficient space to store the bin without causing an obstruction, including at the front of the property
- there is no suitable access route to move the bin to the collection point (for example, access is only through the property)
- the placement or movement of the bin would cause an obstruction on the highway
Where a property is assessed as unsuitable for wheeled bins, the customer may subscribe to the service and will be provided with three 90‑litre hessian sacks for the storage and presentation of garden waste. This provides a total capacity of up to 270 litres per collection. The charge for this service is the same as for a wheeled bin subscription.
Moving house
If you move to another address within the borough, you must notify the Waste Services team. Bins or sacks must not be taken to the new address. The Council will transfer the subscription, deliver bins or sacks where required, and close the account at the previous address.
If you move out of the borough, you must notify the Waste Services team. The service will be terminated from the date you vacate the property and no refunds will be issued. Bins or sacks must be left at the property, and the Council will arrange collection.
Council Tax and Waste Services operate separate systems. Notifying Council Tax of a change of address does not update your garden waste subscription. Customers must notify Waste Services directly.
Definition of garden waste
Garden waste includes the following materials:
- grass cuttings
- hedge clippings
- small tree pruning, branches, bark and twigs
- tree branches (up to 3in or 7.5cm in diameter)
- moss, weeds (but not controlled weeds such as Japanese Knotweed and Ragwort)
- flowers
- plants with excessive soil removed
- small amounts of fallen fruit (windfall fruit)
- leaves
- real Christmas trees (without decorations or pot)
The garden waste collection service is for domestic household garden waste only and must not be used by commercial gardening services.
No additional waste (‘side waste’) will be collected from outside the bin or sacks, except for real Christmas trees meeting the above size criteria during January.
Collection information
Bins or sacks must be presented at the boundary of the property by 7.00am on the scheduled collection day. Bins or sacks not presented in time will not be collected until the next scheduled collection. No refunds will be issued in these circumstances.
Assisted collections are available for customers who are unable to present their bin or sacks at the boundary. Applications can be made by contacting the Council.
Bins or sacks that are too heavy for safe handling will not be emptied. They will only be collected on the next scheduled collection once the weight has been reduced. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the contents can be safely handled.
Bins or sacks containing incorrect materials, including plastic bags, will not be emptied. It is the customer’s responsibility to remove any contamination before the next collection.
Bin lids must be fully closed for collection to take place.
If bins or sacks are used for any purpose other than garden waste, the Council accepts no liability for any resulting loss or injury. Misused bins or sacks may be removed without refund, and charges may apply for replacement where damage has been caused by the customer.
Bins or sacks damaged through normal wear and tear will be repaired or replaced by the Council at no cost.
The Council will replace the first bin reported as lost or stolen free of charge but reserves the right to charge for subsequent replacements at the same property.
The service is available to residential properties within Tonbridge and Malling only. Properties with communal gardens managed by housing associations or management companies must arrange a commercial collection service, unless managed directly by residents.
All bins and sacks remain the property of the Council and must be returned upon request. Faults must be reported promptly.
Nothing in these terms affects a customer’s statutory rights.