Free garden waste collections will resume from Monday, 2 March, after Bedford Borough Council dropped plans to charge for the service.
The non-statutory service will continue to be provided at no additional charge to Bedford residents, despite money-saving changes proposed by Mayor Tom Wootton in October 2025.
Read: Mayor accused of “gaslighting” Bedfordians over green waste collection charges
From March to November 2025, the council collected 9,477 tonnes of garden waste, all composted locally at Ravensden.
All garden waste collected by the council is composted through open windrow composting, which naturally breaks down garden waste such as grass cuttings, leaves and branches.
Because this is an open-air process, food waste cannot be accepted.
Food waste collections
From Monday, 30 March, food waste will be collected from homes in separate collections and sent to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility, where it will be turned into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
Read: Weekly food waste collections to launch across Bedford Borough in March
Cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold and Ravensden), portfolio holder for environment, said: “We’re delighted to restart our green garden waste collections, an important service that helps residents manage their garden waste sustainably.
“Despite current financial pressures and cuts to council funding nationally, we’ve committed to keeping this valued service for our residents. I’d like to thank everyone for continuing to recycle and dispose of waste responsibly, helping us keep Bedford Borough clean and green.”
This service benefits those lucky enough to have a garden or green space at home, offering a simple way to recycle garden waste and support the Borough’s environmental goals.
Accepted items include grass, plants, weeds, flowers, hedge clippings, leaves and bark.
Residents are reminded not to put soil, rubble, food waste, or large branches in their green bin, as these may cause the collection to be rejected.
Details of what should or shouldn’t go in green-lidded wheelie bins can be found here.
