Extra garden waste collected for permit holders this November

Extra garden waste collected for permit holders this November

Residents with a garden waste collection permit in South Oxfordshire or the Vale of White Horse can have extra garden waste collected for free. The collection will take place on their normal scheduled collection day between 2 November and 13 November 2026.

Permit holders can put out a maximum of four additional sacks of garden waste, per garden waste permit, presented next to their brown bin.

To be eligible for a collection, please follow this guidance:

• Only present natural garden waste, such as cut grass, plants or small branches.
• Please use standard-sized (60L) black refuse-style sacks which combined total no more than a standard bin full.
• Please DO NOT use bags larger than 60L (including one-tonne builders’ type waste bags) – crews will not collect garden waste from these as they are too heavy to lift into the vehicle.
• Sacks must be left untied so crews can easily empty them into the rear of the vehicle and check there are no contaminants.

All garden waste collected will be taken to a facility near Wallingford. The resulting compost is sold to local farmers for use on their farmland as a soil conditioner.

Cllr Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We know many residents are busy tidying up their gardens in the autumn, so this is a great opportunity for permit holders to recycle that extra waste responsibly. By offering these additional collections, we’re making it easier for households to keep their gardens in good shape while ensuring garden waste is turned into valuable compost.”

Cllr Robert Clegg, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We’re pleased to provide this service in the autumn, which helps residents clear their gardens before the winter. All the garden waste collected will be transformed into compost and used by local farmers – it’s a simple and sustainable way to return nutrients to the soil.”

More information about garden waste collections, including how to buy a permit valid until March 2027 (if you don’t have one already), can be found on the South Oxfordshire garden waste page or Vale garden waste page.