The Garden Waste Subscription Scheme terms and conditions are listed under the following headings:
- Garden waste subscription scheme charges
- Garden waste subscription scheme stickers
- Garden waste subscription scheme accepted garden waste
- Garden waste subscription scheme collections
- Garden waste subscription scheme legal information
The Garden Waste Subscription Scheme terms and conditions are:
1. You agree to pay City of York Council (CYC) to collect garden waste under the scheme.
2. All garden waste must be placed in a standard, green, domestic wheeled bin issued by CYC (green bin).
3. Garden waste will be collected every 2 weeks during the 2024 collection season which runs from 5 August 2024 to 6 December 2024. Full details of collection dates are available in the Waste Collections Calendar.
4. Only eligible domestic properties can take part in the scheme. You can check the eligibility of your property in the Waste Collections Calendar.
Garden waste subscription scheme charges
5. You will be charged for each green bin you apply to have included within the scheme. The charge for 2024 is £21.00 per green bin.
6. Payment is required at the start of each collection season. CYC publish details of the charge for each year of the scheme and the date on which payments will begin to be accepted on the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme webpage.
7. If you have not paid for the scheme before the start of the new collection season your access to the scheme will be suspended until you have made the payment.
8. If you're receiving Council Tax Support (CTS) you're eligible for a 50% discount on the collection charge. You'll need to let CYC know about this before you make a payment as the discount cannot be applied retrospectively. Details of Council Tax Support can be found online. If you receive CTS and have more than 1 green bin for garden waste, the discount will only apply to the collection charge for the first green bin. Any additional green bins will be charged at the standard rate with no discount applied.
9. If you sign up to the scheme after the start of the collection season the full collection charge will still be payable, there is no reduction for a part year licence.
10. You may cancel your participation in the scheme at any time. However there will be no refund or part refund of the collection charge if you do so. If CYC cancels the scheme following evidence of misuse of the service by a resident, there will be no refund or part refund of the collection charge.
11. If you live in a rented property, you should agree arrangements for payment with your landlord. CYC will accept payment from either the occupant or the landlord of a rented property.
Garden waste subscription scheme stickers
12. You should receive a unique, self-adhesive sticker for your green bin within 10 working days of payment being made. If you have not received your sticker after 10 working days, contact waste services.
13. Each sticker is valid for 1 collection season only.
14. You must ensure your sticker is clearly displayed on the back of your green bin so that it is visible to our Waste Team on collection day. CYC Waste Team will not empty any green bin that does not display a valid sticker.
15. If your sticker becomes detached, defaced or lost contact waste services to obtain a replacement. Collections cannot be guaranteed until a replacement sticker is clearly displayed on your green bin. Please note: the replacement sticker may look slightly different to the original sticker issued to you at the start of the scheme, but it will still be valid for the duration of the relevant collection season.
16. Stickers are only valid at the property for which they have been registered and cannot be transferred. If you move house you'll need to reapply for the scheme at your new property and no reduction of the charge will be applied. If you move house part way through a collection season your sticker may be left for the benefit of the new occupants but no refund shall be given in these circumstances.
17. You may share your green bin with your neighbour but you should agree any specific arrangements between yourselves. For a shared green bin 1 person should sign up and make payment for the scheme and a sticker will be issued for their address. Any shared green bins must only be presented at the address shown on the sticker.
Garden waste subscription scheme accepted garden waste
18. Only accepted garden waste will be collected from the green bin provided. Do not place waste in plastic bags as this can affect the composting process. Contaminated green bins with incorrect material will not be emptied.
19. See full details of accepted garden waste.
20. CYC will replace damaged or lost green bins free of charge. The green bins issued may either be new or refurbished, with a capacity of 180 litres.
21. If you require an additional green bin this will be provided free of charge. You will be charged for each green bin you apply to have included within the scheme. Green bins issued may either be new or refurbished, with a capacity of 180 litres.
Garden waste subscription scheme collections
22. You're responsible for ensuring your green bin is presented for collection at the front edge of your property (or other agreed collection point) by 7.00am on the date of collection. You must take your green bin back within the boundary of your property as soon as possible following collection and must not leave it out between collections.
23. You should report missed garden waste collections within 24 hours of the scheduled collection date.
24. If a collection is missed due to an error on the part of CYC or its operatives, once notified the Waste Team will return as soon as reasonably practicable to empty your green bin. If a collection is missed because your green bin was not presented correctly CYC Waste Team will not return to collect your green bin until the next scheduled collection date.
25. No refunds will be given for missed collections.
26. CYC reserve the right to refuse to empty green bins which:
- a) contain inappropriate materials (items which are not considered accepted garden waste)
- b) are too heavy to safely manoeuvre
- c) contain waste which is heavily compacted or frozen
- d) have a lid which is not closed
We reserve the right to withdraw the scheme at any property which persistently breaches these standards. No refunds of the service charge will be given in these circumstances.
27. You're responsible for removing inappropriate materials, agitating the contents where it is compacted, or removing material where the green bin is too heavy or the lid does not close. CYC Waste Team will return to collect your green bin at the next scheduled collection.
28. Your green bin lid must be completely closed flat and no additional waste will be collected, this includes any extra waste placed next to the green bin, on the floor or on the lid. If your green bin is too heavy to be lifted safely you'll be expected to remove material to ensure it is safe to lift prior to the next scheduled collection.
29. CYC reserve the right to audit your green bin and its contents at any time to ensure you are using the scheme properly. These audits may take place on days other than scheduled collection days.
30. CYC reserve the right to withdraw the scheme if a risk assessment shows that collecting from a particular property may cause an unacceptable risk to CYC Waste Team or vehicles and an alternative collection point cannot be agreed upon.
31. CYC reserve the right to collect garden waste using non-garden waste vehicles.
32. CYC reserve the right to alter scheduled collection dates. Any proposed changes will be communicated in advance to affected residents, except where advance notification is not possible due to short-term issues caused by operational reasons or in the event of emergency.
33. CYC is not obliged to provide the scheme where collection is prevented due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control such as severe weather, blocked access or industrial action. CYC will, however, make every attempt to reschedule collections missed due to such occurrences at its earliest convenience.
Garden waste subscription scheme legal information
34. This agreement ensures that your garden waste is being collected lawfully under Section 34 of The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and in line with The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012.
35. To administer the scheme it is necessary for CYC to process certain personal data. All personal data is processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Read the Garden Waste Subscription Scheme Privacy Notice.
36. Nothing in these terms and conditions affects your statutory rights.
37. CYC reserve the right to vary these terms and conditions, including but not limited to amending the collection charge applicable to the scheme. Changes to these terms and conditions will be published here.
38. In line with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel your subscription to the scheme within 14 days of opting in, without giving a reason. If you cancel within this time you'll be entitled to a refund of the amount paid. To cancel a subscription contact waste services. If you've already received your sticker you must either return the sticker to CYC or ensure it has been completely removed from your green bin and destroyed. If you have already received an additional green bin CYC will advise you on when this can be collected.
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