Residents across County Durham have until midnight on Friday, February 13, 2026, to register for the local garden waste collection service to ensure they receive the full schedule of pick-ups this year. This opt-in service provided by Durham County Council includes 18 collections that take place every two weeks between March and November.
The subscription fee for the 2026 season is £45 for each bin, which residents can pay through the council’s online portal or over the phone. Once a household signs up, they will receive a bin sticker in the post to show they have paid for the service so that collection crews know to empty the bin.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, the cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said the scheme helps the environment by composting garden waste instead of sending it to a landfill. All waste collected through the scheme is taken to the Joint Stocks facility in Coxhoe where it is turned into compost and reused.
This service is now available to most households in the county, including those in the Teesdale area who were previously served by a different provider. Residents who miss the Friday deadline may not be able to receive the full 18-collection cycle for the year.
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