Ealing has the 11th lowest annual charge for garden waste collection in London, according to a comparison of subscription charges across the capital. Residents can subscribe to the optional service for £75 a year, which covers 23 collections during the 2026/27 service year.
The analysis, carried out by Divert, compared garden waste subscription charges across London’s 33 local authorities. It found Ealing charges the same as neighbouring Hounslow at £75 a year, while Hillingdon residents pay £77. Harrow and Brent both charge £69, while Richmond upon Thames charges £95. At the other end of the scale, Kingston upon Thames has London’s highest annual charge at £104.
Six London boroughs – Greenwich, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster – provide garden waste collections free of charge
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Councillor Dominic Moffitt, cabinet member for climate action, welcomed the findings.
He said: “We’re very pleased to see that the garden waste service we provide in Ealing borough is ranked amongst the cheapest in London. We continuously keep our waste and recycling services under review, as evidenced by recent changes we made to the garden waste service, which we’ve made cheaper, more frequent and more accessible for residents following their feedback.”
Councillor Moffitt added: “By recycling garden waste, it can be sent for composting which has a positive impact on the natural environment.”
The council has reduced the annual subscription price for 2026/27 and made several changes to the service, including shortening the winter pause from 11 weeks to eight weeks and introducing pro-rata subscriptions for households joining in July or October. Pro-rata refunds are also available for residents who move out of the borough during the service year.
Residents aged 65 and over, along with those receiving means-tested benefits, can subscribe at a reduced annual rate of £50. According to Divert, more than 16,000 households already use Ealing’s garden waste collection service.
John Verity, garden waste collection expert at Divert, said the £75 annual charge was not among the highest in London but still represented another household cost for many residents.
He told EALING.NEWS: “It’s not one of the most expensive garden waste services in London, but it’s still another household cost, especially for people with bigger gardens or a lot of seasonal waste.
“That said, there is some positive news for residents as Ealing has reduced the yearly price for 2026/27, cut the winter pause and introduced pro-rata options for people who sign up later in the year.
“The key thing to remember is making sure people know what they’re paying for, when collections stop over winter, and where they can take their garden waste if they don’t subscribe.”
Residents who do not currently use the garden waste collection service are encouraged to compost garden waste at home where possible or take it to a household reuse and recycling centre. Those wishing to subscribe can do so through Ealing Council’s website.
The council said residents who need help subscribing or paying online can call customer services on 020 8825 6000 between 9am and 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and between 10am and 5pm on Wednesday. Support is also available at the council’s community hubs.
