Quick answer

For regular grass and hedge cuttings the council garden waste bin is usually the cheapest route. For an overgrown garden, a one-off big load, or soil, turf and fencing the bin will not take, a private garden clearance in Winchester is more practical.

£73 a year

Garden waste bin

Standard 240-litre brown bin; £48 for the smaller 140-litre bin

£58 a year

With Council Tax Reduction

Standard bin; £33 for the smaller bin

65mm

Maximum branch diameter

Small branches only, and the lid must close

What the Winchester Council garden waste service costsSection titled What%20the%20Winchester%20Council%20garden%20waste%20service%20costs

Garden waste is not collected free by Winchester City Council. It is a paid annual subscription, and according to the council's garden waste FAQs it costs £73 a year for a standard 240-litre brown bin or £48 for the smaller 140-litre bin. Residents who receive Council Tax Reduction pay £58 or £33 instead; a Single Person Discount on its own does not qualify. You can order an additional brown bin, and the bin can take four to six weeks to arrive.

The full year's fee is paid upfront with no pro-rata adjustment, and the council's terms and conditions say subscriptions run from March to the end of February. New sign-ups can be made online or by phone on 0300 300 0013. When we checked, the sign-up page said new subscriptions and renewals were paused until 1 December. Collection frequency and the price of an extra bin are not stated on those pages, so ask the council before you commit. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official page before you subscribe.

Winchester Council garden waste prices

A paid annual brown bin subscription, with the full year's fee payable upfront.

Standard bin
240 litres, one subscription year
£73
Smaller bin
140 litres, one subscription year
£48
Standard bin with Council Tax Reduction
Smaller bin £33
£58

Council prices and rules change. Recheck the official Winchester Council page before you subscribe.

What can and cannot go in the garden waste binSection titled What%20can%20and%20cannot%20go%20in%20the%20garden%20waste%20bin

The council's garden waste FAQs list what the brown bin takes:

Grass cuttings
Hedge cuttings and prunings
Weeds
Small amounts of leaves
Small branches, up to 65mm (just under 3 inches) in diameter

And what it does not take:

Soil, concrete and rubble
Vegetable peelings and food scraps
Coal ash
Animal waste
Commercial waste and general household waste

Garden waste must be in the brown bin to be collected. Under the council's terms and conditions, extra green waste left beside the bin is not collected, the bin must be closed, and a bin judged too heavy to empty safely will not be emptied.

Taking garden waste to the tipSection titled Taking%20garden%20waste%20to%20the%20tip

Winchester City Council's recycling centre page says the district is served by household waste recycling centres run by Hampshire County Council, including Winchester, Bishops Waltham and New Alresford. Green and garden waste is on the list of items they accept, and the page does not mention a charge for it.

Hampshire County Council requires an appointment to visit, which you book on its website. The council page does not set out van permits or charges for soil and rubble, so check Hampshire County Council's recycling centre pages for the latest information on opening times and charges before you travel.

Council bin vs private garden clearance at a glanceSection titled Council%20bin%20vs%20private%20garden%20clearance%20at%20a%20glance

Side by side

Winchester Council garden waste bin

Best for: Regular grass cuttings, leaves and light pruning through the year.

Cost: £73 a year (240-litre bin)
Timing: Collection day set by the council

Takes grass, hedge cuttings, weeds, prunings and branches up to 65mm
No soil, rubble or side waste; the bin must close
You cut, bag and wheel it out yourself

Labour included

Private garden clearance with Winchester Rubbish Removal

Best for: Overgrown gardens, big prunings, one-off clear-outs and mixed garden rubbish.

Cost: Priced by load and access
Timing: Usually the same week

We cut back, clear and load - nothing to bag or wheel out
Soil, turf, old sheds, fencing and garden furniture in one visit
Green waste goes for composting through licensed routes

When the council bin is enoughSection titled When%20the%20council%20bin%20is%20enough

The brown bin suits a garden that produces a steady, manageable amount of green waste:

Regular grass cuttings and hedge trimmings through the growing season
Weeds, leaves and light pruning that fit in a 240-litre or 140-litre bin
Branches no thicker than 65mm
A household happy to cut, load and wheel the bin out themselves

When a private clearance is the better optionSection titled When%20a%20private%20clearance%20is%20the%20better%20option

A private clearance is more practical when the job is bigger than a bin, or has a deadline:

An overgrown or neglected garden that needs cutting back as well as clearing
More waste than the bin holds, since side waste is not collected
Materials the council bin refuses, such as soil, rubble and fencing
A house sale or tenancy deadline
Nobody able to do the cutting, bagging and lifting

More than the bin can take?

We clear overgrown gardens, green waste, soil and garden rubbish across Winchester, usually the same week.

Call 01962 392391 Get a Free Quote Online

Which option fits your gardenSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20garden

Match your situation

Regular grass and hedge cuttings
Winchester Council bin
A paid annual subscription that takes grass, hedge cuttings and prunings.
A one-off load and a car
Recycling centre
Hampshire County Council centres, including Winchester, accept garden waste, but you need to book an appointment.
Soil, turf, rubble or fencing
Private clearance
The council bin does not take soil, concrete or rubble.
An overgrown garden or a deadline
Private clearance
One visit covers cutting back, clearing and disposal.

Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions

Is garden waste collection free in Winchester?Section titled Is%20garden%20waste%20collection%20free%20in%20Winchester%3F

No. The kerbside brown bin is a paid annual subscription, currently £73 for a standard bin or £48 for a smaller one, according to the council's garden waste FAQs. Taking garden waste to a Hampshire recycling centre is a separate route, and the council's recycling centre page lists it as accepted. Recheck the official pages before you book, as prices and rules change.

What if my garden waste will not fit in the bin?Section titled What%20if%20my%20garden%20waste%20will%20not%20fit%20in%20the%20bin%3F

The council's terms and conditions say additional green waste placed beside the bin will not be collected, and overflowing bins will not be emptied. You can order an additional brown bin, take the surplus to a recycling centre by appointment, or book a private garden clearance.

Can the council take a one-off load of garden waste?Section titled Can%20the%20council%20take%20a%20one-off%20load%20of%20garden%20waste%3F

The council pages we read do not describe a one-off garden waste collection, so contact the waste team on 0300 300 0013 to ask. For a one-off load, the usual routes are a Hampshire recycling centre (appointment needed) or a private garden clearance.

Want it gone without the lifting?

Tell us what needs to go and we will give you a free, no-obligation quote for Winchester and nearby areas.