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 Brighton is more practical.
£102 a year
Garden waste bin
One 240-litre bin, plus a £20 setup fee on new subscriptions
Every 2 weeks
Collections
Except over the council winter break
1 April to 31 March
Subscription year
New subscriptions are charged pro rata
What the Brighton Council garden waste service costsSection titled What%20the%20Brighton%20Council%20garden%20waste%20service%20costs
Brighton & Hove City Council runs garden waste as a paid subscription. According to the council's garden waste page, it costs £102 a year for a 240-litre bin, collected every 2 weeks except over the council's winter break. From 23 June 2026 a £20 setup fee applies to each new subscription. You can hold up to three subscriptions, and each extra one costs £102. The page does not mention any concessions.
You sign up and renew through your council MyAccount, and the bin is delivered within two weeks of the subscription starting. New subscriptions run to a fixed period of 1 April to 31 March, so the cost is worked out pro rata. The terms and conditions allow a 14-day cooling-off period for a refund; otherwise the fee is non-refundable. Prices and rules change, so recheck the official page before you subscribe.
Brighton Council garden waste prices
Fortnightly collection of a 240-litre bin, with a fixed 1 April to 31 March subscription period.
First bin
240-litre bin, one year (pro rata for new subscriptions); £20 setup fee on new subscriptions
£102
Each extra bin
Up to 3 subscriptions in total
£102
Council prices and rules change. Recheck the official Brighton 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 list of what can go in the garden waste bin says the bin takes:
- Leaves, grass and plants
- Twigs, hedge and tree cuttings
- Fruit and vegetable peelings and small amounts of cooked vegetables
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
It does not take:
- Plastic bags of any kind, including compostable bags (waste must go in loose)
- Bits of wood over 10cm wide or long
- Stones, rubble and soil
- All other food waste, plus pet waste and bedding
- Paper, cardboard, cans, glass, plastic bottles, packaging, clothes and textiles
- Japanese knotweed, ragwort and three-cornered leek
Under the terms and conditions, side waste left beside the bin is not collected.
Taking garden waste to the tipSection titled Taking%20garden%20waste%20to%20the%20tip
The council lists two household waste recycling sites: Hove on Modbury Way, off Old Shoreham Road (BN3 7AE), and Brighton in Whitehawk, off Wilson Avenue (BN2 5PA). Its page on what you can and can't take lists "general garden waste" as accepted, and allows hardcore, rubble, ceramics and soil up to eight standard rubble bags a month (maximum bag size 50 litres). The pages we checked do not state any charge for garden waste, so confirm with the council before you go.
The access rules say you may be asked for proof of a Brighton & Hove address. Trailers up to 1.2m can use the Hove site only, and Luton or box vans, flatbeds and tippers, and vehicles with business signage, are not allowed. Trade or business waste cannot be tipped at the sites, so a commercial clearance cannot use them.
Council bin vs private garden clearance at a glanceSection titled Council%20bin%20vs%20private%20garden%20clearance%20at%20a%20glance
Side by side
Brighton Council garden waste bin
Best for: Regular grass cuttings, leaves and light pruning through the year.
- Cost
- £102 a year, plus £20 setup on new subscriptions
- Timing
- Every 2 weeks, except the winter break
- Takes leaves, grass, plants, twigs and hedge and tree cuttings
- One 240-litre bin, loose waste only, wood no bigger than 10cm
- You cut, bag and wheel it out yourself
Private garden clearance with Brighton Rubbish Removal
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 bin works well when your garden waste is steady, light and fits the rules:
- You mow and trim regularly and produce a bin's worth every fortnight
- Your waste is mostly grass, leaves, plants and hedge cuttings
- Branches and wood are small enough to stay under 10cm wide or long
- You are happy to pay for the year and put the bin out yourself
When a private clearance is the better optionSection titled When%20a%20private%20clearance%20is%20the%20better%20option
A private clearance is more practical when the job is bigger than a bin or falls outside the council rules:
- The garden is overgrown or neglected and needs cutting back first
- You have more than a 240-litre bin holds, as side waste is not collected
- There is soil, rubble, thick wood, fencing or a shed, which the bin does not take
- You have a house sale or tenancy deadline
- Nobody is able to do the cutting, bagging and carrying
More than the bin can take?
We clear overgrown gardens, green waste, soil and garden rubbish across Brighton, usually the same week.
Which option fits your gardenSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20garden
Match your situation
Regular grass and hedge cuttings
Brighton Council binThe council bin takes grass, leaves and hedge cuttings every two weeks for £102 a year.
A one-off load and a car
Recycling centreThe Hove (Modbury Way) and Brighton (Whitehawk) sites list general garden waste as accepted, with proof of address.
Soil, turf, rubble or fencing
Private clearanceThe garden waste bin does not take stones, rubble or soil, and the tip limits soil and rubble to eight bags a month.
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 Brighton?Section titled Is%20garden%20waste%20collection%20free%20in%20Brighton%3F
No. Brighton & Hove City Council charges £102 a year for a 240-litre garden waste bin, plus a £20 setup fee on new subscriptions, as set out on its garden waste page. Council prices and rules 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 and conditions say side waste, meaning extra bags or boxes beside the bin, will not be collected. Your options are an extra subscription (up to three in total), a trip to a recycling site, or a private garden clearance.
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
We found no one-off garden waste collection on the council's garden waste page or its terms, which describe a fortnightly subscription service. For a single load, use a recycling site (check the access rules for your vehicle) or book a private clearance.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
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