How it works
When you've received your permit
When you've received your permit you'll need to stick it on your green bin, underneath the handles.
You must make sure you put your permit in the right place on your bin. The permit will have your address on and we'll only empty garden waste from green bins that display a valid garden waste permit underneath the handle on the body of the wheelie bin. Details about how to do this will be sent with the permit.
Permits will be posted out within 14 working days of your order being placed. Your garden waste will not start to be collected until your permit is stuck on the bin.
What you can put in your green bin
Food waste
- fruit or vegetable peelings
- bread and cakes
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- scrapings from your plate
- eggs and dairy products for example cheese
- meat including bones
- fish
Other waste
- a large bunch of cut flowers
- small pet bedding for example straw and sawdust
Garden waste, if you have a permit
- grass cuttings
- leaves and twigs
- hedge clippings
- plants
- branches and real Christmas trees, cut up small enough to fit in the bin with the lid closed. Branches must not be more than 10cm in diameter or thicker than your wrist
You must buy a permit if you plan to put garden waste in your green bin.
If you put the wrong things in your green bin
If you do not have a garden waste permit and your bin contains anything other than food waste, a bunch of cut flowers or small pet bedding it will not be emptied. Collection crews will attach a notice to the bin to tell you that it has not been collected and the reason.
You can either:
- remove the garden waste and put the bin out again on your next scheduled collection day for your food waste collection
- buy a garden waste permit. Once you've received your permit and attached it to your green bin, we can empty it. Please be aware that it can take up to 10 days to process garden waste permit applications
- arrange a decontamination collection for £25. This will be scheduled in as soon as possible
You can find more information in our terms and conditions.
If you do not have a green bin
If you do not have a green bin and we provide a wheelie bin collection service in your area, you can order one for £25.
If you only plan to use the bin for food waste you can order an external food caddy for £10. You put this out for collection in the same way as your green bin. You do not need a permit for a food caddy.
You can order a compost bin on the GetComposting website.
If you have a garden waste permit but your green bin is not collected
You can visit our webpage to report a missed bin collection.
Collection errors or other conditions beyond our control can result in missed collections. You can read our terms and conditions for further information.
If you move house
A permit is registered to a house. You cannot move a permit from one house to another.
If you're moving house within Stockport, you need to check if the new house has a garden waste permit stuck to the green bin. If it does, you can use that permit. If it does not, you’ll need to buy a new permit if you want to add garden waste to your green bin.