Garden waste collections taking a winter break

After another successful year of recycling, it’s almost time for garden waste collections to take a winter break.

Over the past year, we’ve collected more than 16,000 tonnes of garden waste from over 140,000 homes across the Wakefield district, helping residents recycle garden cuttings, leaves and other garden waste.

The garden waste we collect is turned into soil improver, which residents can collect free of charge from their local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC). Simply bring a bag and your HWRC permit.

To help us produce high-quality soil improver, it's important that only garden waste is placed in your brown bin. Remember, never put soil in your bin. Accepted items include:

• Flowers and plants

• Bark, twigs and branches

• Leaves

• Hedge trimmings and pruning’s

• Grass cuttings

• Weeds

From the end of November, garden waste collections will be paused and will return in March 2027. Residents are encouraged to check their bin calendar to find their final collection date of the season at Check your bin collection dates and Where I Live information - Wakefield Council

After your last garden waste collection of the season, we recommend taking a few minutes to empty and clean your bin before storing it away. Keeping it clean over the winter can help avoid contamination, so it's ready for use when collections restart in March.

Planning one last garden tidy-up before winter sets in? You can continue recycling your garden waste throughout the winter by composting at home or taking it to any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Our HWRCs are open seven days a week:

• Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm

• Saturday: 8am to 4pm

• Sunday: 9am to 4pm

To check what can and cannot go in each bin, visit Which bin does it go in? - Wakefield Council

Thank you to everyone who has recycled their garden waste this year and helped make a positive contribution to the environment. We look forward to restarting collections in spring 2027.