Garden waste

The Garden waste service enables you to recycle your garden waste, where it is processed and turned into mulch or soil conditioner.

Garden waste collections take place annually from March to November.

Important information about subscriptions:

• This service is strictly for Sunderland residential properties only.
• You can subscribe to the service from January until the end of August.
• Garden waste services are suspended from mid-November to end of March.
• Garden waste subscriptions are set to auto-renew each year if done online.  Further details are provided on the page below.
• You can subscribe up to four bins at a property, however every bin will need its own subscription to be paid, and sticker attached to it for it to be collected.
• Please do not present your garden waste bin until it is your collection day, you can check when your collection day is.
• If you're subscribing for the first time and don't already have a brown bin associated with your property, this will be identified when you subscribe.  You will then receive your brown bin within 14 working days.
• Once you have subscribed you will be sent a sticker for your garden waste bin.  Please note we start sending out stickers to subscribers toward the end of February, please allow up to 18 days from signing up, for your sticker to arrive.
• Place the sticker on the brown bin under the handles.
• We will only provide a refund if you cancel your subscription within 14 days from the date of sign-up and providing you have not had a collection.  To cancel this service please call 0191 520 5550. Lines are open between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.  The council will seek to reimburse the payment received within 14 days of you requesting a refund.
• The brown garden waste bins supplied as part of the garden waste collection subscription scheme remain the property of the council.

Garden waste auto-renewal subscriptions:

• Helps ensure you don't miss any collections when the new subscription year begins.
• The payment will be taken using the same card details you provided when you signed up. 
• You'll receive a reminder notification before any auto-renewal payment is taken.
• If you'd prefer to subscribe and make the payment yourself, you can do this between January and August, while the subscription period is open.
• You can turn auto-renewal off at anytime, please follow the instructions below.

Our online request systems have changed. When you click on the button below, you'll be redirected to the council's 'My Account' sign in page. Please sign in as usual or create an account using your email address.

Subscribe to garden waste

See our step by step guide that shows you how to subscribe, cancel and switch off the auto-renewal subscription.

How to turn off auto-renewal:

• If you do not wish to auto-renew, you can quickly and easily switch it off by following the steps below, or by watching the video below:
  • Log into your My Account or create an account using your email address
  • Click on the 'Your Waste and Recycling requests' red tab
  • Under the 'Garden Waste Service' red tab, click 'View Subscriptions'
  • Find the Auto-Renewal column
  • Click on Cancel Auto-Renewal
  • Confirm by clicking Yes
  • A green confirmation message will appear at the top of the page to let you know auto-renewal has been successfully cancelled
  • Once cancelled, no payments will be taken automatically, however you will need to renew manually online if you wish to continue with Garden Waste collections

More details about the service can be found in the garden waste collection service's frequently asked questions and terms and conditions.