Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being advised to put garden waste bins out by 5am because BCP Council warns collections may run until 11pm during the 2026 season. The council’s garden waste page states: “Make sure you always put your bin out by 5am on your collection day. We often make collections in the evening and may continue until 11pm.”
The 2026 garden waste service began on 26 January and runs until the week ending 11 December 2026. The council says the expanded operating window — effectively covering about 5am to 11pm — is intended to help crews complete longer routes and maximise vehicle uptime so collections can be completed without adding extra vehicles.
The service costs £71 per bin for 2026. Local residents and community groups have raised concerns that earlier start times and late-night collections could cause noise disturbance, and that leaving bins at the kerb from early morning until late could create trip or access hazards for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs.
BCP Council documents and reporting on the authority’s waste strategy say the changes form part of efforts to manage high subscription volumes and to make the service self‑sustaining amid ongoing financial pressures. The council says its priority is ensuring subscribers receive their collections even if crews work extended hours to complete rounds.
