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Garden waste

garden waste recyclingAllerdale Borough Council has been implementing a 'three bin' scheme throughout the Borough.  As part of the scheme householders are provided with bins for garden waste.  These are collected on a fortnightly basis from the edge of the property by a separate clean vehicle and the material taken to one of three centralised composting outlets we use in Allerdale. Alco Waste Management at Lillyhall, Kevin Thompson's at Flimby or Harrisons at Silloth.

Please ensure that all garden waste is put loose into the bin and not in plastic bags.  Any sort of plastic, or general household waste that is placed in the garden waste bins or paper /card bins has the potential to contaminate the whole load and bins may be removed as a consequence.  Unfortunately garden waste for recycling cannot be collected in bags. If you have additional bags of garden waste on a regular basis you can apply for additional bins. Alternatively you can take your extra garden waste to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Site.

Why can't I put vegetable peelings in my bin?

Due to the Animal Bi-products Legislation that was introduced by the Government following the Foot & Mouth Crisis, we are unable to include kitchen and vegetable waste in the garden bins. However, you can compost your vegetable peelings, tea bags and flowers if you have a home compost bin. This way you can be sure of the quality that is going into your bin and benefit from the compost you produce.

If your bin does become damaged please do not try and repair the bin yourself, but contact Allerdale Borough Council for a replacement or repair. This will ensure that only approved manufacturer's parts are used.

Where can I buy the compost?

In order for the composting outlets to be able to sell back the compost they produce from the garden waste delivered to them, they must be in receipt of a PAS100. This accreditation is granted by the Environment Agency. The protocol required in order to gain the PAS100 includes a very high standard quality of product and the need for Quality Management Systems to be in place. One of our outlets is aiming to achieve this and is working closely with the Environment Agency to gain the necessary quality for the PAS100. 

My bin hasn't been emptied because it's too heavy

Garden waste tends to be heavy by its nature, by putting soil in your bin your bin may be too heavy to lift.  The 'lip' on the front of the bin takes the weight of the whole bin when it is being emptied and can mean that the bin will split and the bin will spring off the back of the wagon when being emptied. Therefore please ensure that if you are placing shrubs, weeds and sods in your bin that you shake as much of the soil off as possible first.

I have a big garden can I have more than one garden bin?

Yes householders with large gardens can have more than one garden bin.  These bins will be given free of charge however please be aware that in the interest of re-use the bin will not be a new one.


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 01900 702702
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Allerdale Borough Council
Allerdale House, Workington, Cumbria,
CA14 3YJ