Residents paying for garden waste collections in Westmorland and Furness are among the highest-charged in the North West, according to new research comparing council subscription fees across the UK.
The council has been ranked third most expensive in the North West for garden waste collections, with households paying £60 a year for the new subscription service introduced across the authority area.
The ranking, compiled by garden waste collection experts at Divert, found only Cheshire East Council and Wirral Borough Council charge more in the region.
Cheshire East tops the table with a yearly charge of £69, followed by Wirral at £63.50, while Westmorland and Furness sits in third place with its £60 annual subscription.
The new Westmorland and Furness garden waste charge came into effect on 1 July 2026, after the council agreed the move as part of its 2026/27 budget plans.
Under the scheme, residents pay for the optional fortnightly collection service, which runs from April to March, with collections paused during December, January and February. Food waste is not accepted through the garden waste service.
Residents wanting an additional bin face a higher charge of £85, which includes a £25 one-off payment.
The Divert research highlighted the growing variation in garden waste charges across the country, with some councils providing collections without an annual subscription fee while others using a subscription charge.
In the North West, the average garden waste collection cost was calculated at £30.99, placing the region among the lower-cost areas nationally.
Several councils in the North West still offer garden waste collections without an annual subscription charge, including Cumberland, Bury, Knowsley, Manchester, Oldham, Ribble Valley, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, Tameside and Wigan.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said the introduction of the charge followed decisions made during the council’s budget process and reflected the financial pressures facing local government.
They said: “A new subscription-based garden waste collection service was introduced across Westmorland and Furness from 1 July 2026.
“This change follows decisions made as part of Westmorland and Furness Council’s 2026/27 budget, agreed at Full Council on 26 February, and reflects the need to review discretionary services in light of significant financial challenges.
“Garden waste collection is not a statutory service, and introducing a charge ensures fairness with those who use the service contributing to its cost while helping the council protect essential services for all residents.”
The council has confirmed that 33,479 households have now signed up, with a total of 38,659 subscriptions across Westmorland and Furness, indicating many households have opted to subscribe for more than one bin.
John Verity, garden waste collection expert at Divert, said garden waste charges had created a “postcode lottery” for residents.
He said: “Garden waste collection charges have become a real postcode lottery for residents across the UK, as in some areas, households can have their garden waste collected kerbside, whereas others require a separate subscription to be taken out.
“With more people spending time in their gardens over the summer, it is worth checking your council’s terms before signing up to an annual subscription.
“Households with only a small amount of garden waste may find home composting, sharing a bin with a neighbour where their council allows it, or using a local household recycling centre works out better.”
The research also found major regional differences, with the South East recording the highest average garden waste charge in the UK at £72.14, compared with just £5.34 in Northern Ireland where many councils include garden waste within their standard kerbside collections.
For residents across Westmorland and Furness, the introduction of the charge means garden waste has moved from being included within general council services to a paid-for optional subscription, with those choosing to use the service now directly contributing towards its cost.
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