Garden waste in Leeds: brown bin, tip or collection?

From grass cuttings to a full garden clear-out, here are your options in Leeds, checked against Leeds City Council pages on 28 October 2026.

The brown bin

Leeds says it provides the brown bin service at no extra charge to residents. In 2026 collections restarted on Monday 23 March. Last year the final round before the winter break began on 17 November, with the last day on Saturday 29 November 2025. The council gives your own dates at leeds.gov.uk/mybinday.

Goes in, loose: flowers and plants, grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches no more than 3cm thick, and windfall fruit.

Stays out: thicker branches, food waste including peelings, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, ragwort, pet bedding and waste, plastic of any kind (even the compostable sort), rubble, soil and compost. A bin that's too heavy won't be emptied.

The tips

Take garden waste free to any of the eight Leeds tips, all open every day. The council says this is fine all through winter, when the bins aren't collected. A trailer or van still needs a permit.

The bulky collection

A one-off clear-out can go on the council bulky collection: up to 5 items or 4 double-bagged bags, for £30 (or free once a year).

Bigger jobs

An overgrown garden, a removed hedge or a pile of soil is more than the brown bin takes, and soil isn't allowed in it at all. A licensed garden waste collection loads it all, and for lots of soil a grab lorry is often cheapest.