Leeds brown bin collections pause for winter

The final round of garden waste collections is due to begin on 16 November, with the last scheduled collection day on 28 November.

Residents in Leeds who receive a brown bin garden waste collection are being reminded to check when their final collection is due before the service pauses for winter.

The council says the last round will start on Monday 16 November, and the final scheduled collection day will be Saturday 28 November. Collection dates may vary by household, so residents can check their final collection date using the council’s bin day checker. Collection reminders are also available through the Leeds Bins app.

Garden waste options over winter

Brown bin collections are paused during winter, when demand for garden waste disposal is reduced, and resume in spring. Garden waste can still be taken to any of the council’s eight household waste recycling centres at no charge. The centres are open every day from 8am to 4pm. Details of sites and their locations are available on the council’s recycling sites page.

The seasonal pause does not apply to households in the Wetherby area that receive a combined food and garden waste collection. Their brown bins will continue to be collected through winter.

The council says garden waste collected during the year is composted locally and used in farming, horticulture and land restoration projects. Residents can also compost garden waste at home. Fallen leaves can be used as mulch or made into leaf mould, according to the council. Further information about home composting is available on its composting webpage.

Collection service

The council reports that its garden waste service collects more than 31,000 tonnes of material each year from 220,000 households across Leeds. It is intended to support households with gardens and supplement home composting.

Councillor James Gibson, the council’s executive member for environment, said residents who receive the service should put their brown bin out for its final collection if it needs emptying. He also noted that garden waste can be taken to a household waste recycling centre during the winter break, and that the Wetherby combined collection trial will continue through the season.