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 Swindon is more practical.
£68.50 a year
Garden waste bin
One 240-litre bin or set of council bags
Fortnightly
Collections
25 a year, none over Christmas
1 April to 31 March
Subscription year
Part-year sign-ups pay less
What the Swindon Council garden waste service costsSection titled What%20the%20Swindon%20Council%20garden%20waste%20service%20costs
Garden waste is not collected free in Swindon. It is a paid subscription, and Swindon Borough Council's garden waste page gives the price as £68.50 a year for one 240-litre green wheelie bin, or for a set of three reusable green bags where a bin cannot be stored safely. Collections are fortnightly, 25 a year.
The subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March and must be renewed each April. If you start part-way through, the council lists reduced rates of £58.50 from 1 July 2026 and £48.50 from 1 October 2026. You subscribe and pay by card online through the council's form. The council aims to deliver the bin within 20 working days of payment, and its terms and conditions say there are no collections from Monday 21 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. Extra bins can be requested after 1 April, and each one needs its own subscription. The council also offers an assisted collection if you cannot move the bin yourself. Council prices and rules change, so recheck the official page before you subscribe.
Swindon Council garden waste prices
Fortnightly collection, 25 times a year, from 1 April to 31 March
First bin
One 240-litre bin or set of reusable bags, per year
£68.50
Each extra bin
Each extra bin needs its own subscription; the council page gives £68.50 per bin or set of bags
£68.50
Council prices and rules change. Recheck the official Swindon 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 collections page lists what the bin takes:
- Flowers, plants and shrubs
- Grass cuttings and leaves
- Hedge trimmings
- Non-noxious weeds and pond plants
- Twigs and small branches, no thicker than the width of your wrist
- Bedding from vegetarian pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs
It does not take:
- Food waste, including eggshells and peelings
- Soil, earth, stones, rubble or hardcore
- Plant pots or trays
- Plastic sacks
- Treated wood
- Noxious weeds such as Japanese knotweed and rhododendron
- Bedding or waste from cats and dogs
Waste goes in loose, with no bags or liners, and the lid must close. The council says anything left on top of or beside the bin will not be collected.
Taking garden waste to the tipSection titled Taking%20garden%20waste%20to%20the%20tip
Swindon's household waste recycling centre is at Waterside Park, Darby Close, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, SN2 2PN. The council's centre page lists garden waste as accepted. It does not list a charge for garden waste, and it does not mention soil or turf, so check with the council before bringing either.
You can only visit with a pre-booked slot, and the booking page says you must sign a declaration that the waste comes from your own home. Trade customers are not accepted, and flatbeds, tipper vans, caged vehicles and double-axle trailers are turned away. The centre is open every day except Wednesday. If you do not have a car, or the load is large, the tip is harder to use.
Council bin vs private garden clearance at a glanceSection titled Council%20bin%20vs%20private%20garden%20clearance%20at%20a%20glance
Side by side
Swindon Council garden waste bin
Best for: Regular grass cuttings, leaves and light pruning through the year.
- Cost
- £68.50 a year per bin
- Timing
- Fortnightly, none over Christmas
- Takes grass, leaves, hedge trimmings and branches up to wrist thickness
- One 240-litre bin; nothing left beside it will be taken
- You cut, bag and wheel it out yourself
Private garden clearance with Swindon Waste Collection
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 council bin is usually enough when:
- You mostly have grass cuttings, leaves and hedge trimmings
- Your waste is regular and fits in one 240-litre bin every fortnight
- Any branches are no thicker than your wrist
- You can cut, load and wheel the bin out yourself
- You want one yearly cost rather than paying per job
When a private clearance is the better optionSection titled When%20a%20private%20clearance%20is%20the%20better%20option
A private clearance is usually more practical when:
- The garden is overgrown or neglected and needs cutting back first
- There is more than the bin holds, as the council will not take waste left beside it
- You have soil, turf, rubble, treated wood or fencing, which the bin refuses
- There is a house sale or tenancy deadline
- Nobody is able to do the lifting and carrying
More than the bin can take?
We clear overgrown gardens, green waste, soil and garden rubbish across Swindon, usually the same week.
Which option fits your gardenSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20garden
Match your situation
Regular grass and hedge cuttings
Swindon Council binThe bin takes grass, leaves and hedge trimmings fortnightly for a yearly fee.
A one-off load and a car
Recycling centreCheney Manor accepts garden waste, but you must pre-book a slot.
Soil, turf, rubble or fencing
Private clearanceThe council bin does not take soil, rubble, treated wood or plant pots.
An overgrown garden or a deadline
Private clearanceOne visit covers cutting back, clearing and disposal.
Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions
Is garden waste collection free in Swindon?Section titled Is%20garden%20waste%20collection%20free%20in%20Swindon%3F
No. The council charges £68.50 a year for a fortnightly bin or set of bags, as set out on its garden waste page. Prices change, so recheck before you subscribe.
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 say a bin will not be emptied if extra material is left on top of or beside it. You can subscribe for an additional bin, book a slot at the Cheney Manor recycling centre, or book a private clearance for the larger load.
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 checked (garden waste collections and the subscription page) do not mention a one-off garden waste collection. The council points to the household waste recycling centre for taking it yourself, and a private clearance covers collection from your garden.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
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