Quick answer
For regular grass and hedge cuttings the council garden waste bin is usually the cheapest route. For an overgrown garden, a one-off big load, or soil, turf and fencing the bin will not take, a private garden clearance in Portsmouth is more practical.
£72 a year
Garden waste bin
240-litre bin, from 1 April 2026
Fortnightly
Collections
Paused for two weeks over Christmas and New Year
12 months
Subscription year
Runs from the day you register and pay
What the Portsmouth Council garden waste service costsSection titled What%20the%20Portsmouth%20Council%20garden%20waste%20service%20costs
Portsmouth City Council's garden waste service, called Leaf it Out, is a paid subscription. From 1 April 2026 it costs £72 a year for a 240-litre bin or £80 a year for garden waste sacks. Sacks come in packs of 25 at £15 a pack, and you can pay in full or in 12 monthly card payments at no extra cost. The details are on the council's garden waste sign-up page.
Collections are every two weeks, with the bin or sacks out at the edge of your property by 6am on collection day. Under the Leaf it Out terms and conditions, a subscription runs for 12 months from the day you register and pay, and collections stop for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. You can sign up online through the council's waste portal or by phone on 023 9284 1105 (option 4). The pages we checked do not mention a concessionary rate or give an extra-bin price: the terms allow up to three 240-litre bins per property and say a delivery fee may apply to each additional bin.
Portsmouth Council garden waste prices
Leaf it Out, fortnightly collection, 12-month subscription from 1 April 2026
First bin
240-litre bin, 12 months
£72
Each extra bin
Up to three 240-litre bins per property; a delivery fee may apply
Check with the council
Council prices and rules change. Recheck the official Portsmouth Council page before you subscribe.
What can and cannot go in the garden waste binSection titled What%20can%20and%20cannot%20go%20in%20the%20garden%20waste%20bin
The Leaf it Out terms and conditions list what the bin takes and what it refuses. Waste goes in loose, not in bags.
Accepted:
- Leaves and grass cuttings
- Hedge and tree cuttings, prunings and dead plant material
- Woody material under 10cm in diameter
Not accepted:
- Food and kitchen waste, including fallen fruit and vegetables
- Turf, soil, stones, concrete and timber
- Animal waste and animal bedding
- Street sweepings
- Waste in bags
The lid must close and the bin must not overflow, or it will not be collected. Items the council refuses can go to the recycling centre or your black bin.
Taking garden waste to the tipSection titled Taking%20garden%20waste%20to%20the%20tip
Portsmouth residents use the Portsmouth Household Waste Recycling Centre, and the council says it accepts garden waste. Visits are booked online, or by phone on 023 9284 1105 (option 5) if you cannot use the online system. If you arrive in a van or trailer, check whether it needs a permit: each permit includes 12 visits, and every booking counts as one of them. The council's pages do not state a price for garden waste, so confirm any charges when you book.
Council bin vs private garden clearance at a glanceSection titled Council%20bin%20vs%20private%20garden%20clearance%20at%20a%20glance
Side by side
Portsmouth Council garden waste bin
Best for: Regular grass cuttings, leaves and light pruning through the year.
- Cost
- £72 a year for a 240-litre bin
- Timing
- Every two weeks
- Leaves, grass, hedge cuttings and woody material under 10cm
- 240-litre bin; no soil, turf, stones or timber, and the lid must close
- You cut, bag and wheel it out yourself
Private garden clearance with House Clearance Portsmouth
Best for: Overgrown gardens, big prunings, one-off clear-outs and mixed garden rubbish.
- Cost
- Priced by load and access
- Timing
- Usually the same week
- We cut back, clear and load - nothing to bag or wheel out
- Soil, turf, old sheds, fencing and garden furniture in one visit
- Green waste goes for composting through licensed routes
When the council bin is enoughSection titled When%20the%20council%20bin%20is%20enough
The council bin suits a garden you keep on top of through the year:
- Regular lawn mowings and leaves across the growing season
- Hedge and shrub trimmings, with branches under 10cm thick
- A household happy to cut, load and wheel out the bin every fortnight
- Gardens with no soil, turf or building rubbish to dispose of
When a private clearance is the better optionSection titled When%20a%20private%20clearance%20is%20the%20better%20option
A private garden clearance is more practical when the job is bigger than a fortnightly bin:
- An overgrown or neglected garden that needs cutting back first
- More waste than the bin holds in one go
- Soil, turf, stones, concrete or timber, which the council bin refuses
- Fencing, sheds and garden furniture to remove
- A house sale or tenancy deadline
- Nobody able to do the cutting and carrying
More than the bin can take?
We clear overgrown gardens, green waste, soil and garden rubbish across Portsmouth, usually the same week.
Which option fits your gardenSection titled Which%20option%20fits%20your%20garden
Match your situation
Regular grass and hedge cuttings
Portsmouth Council binFortnightly collection of grass, leaves and cuttings for £72 a year.
A one-off load and a car
Recycling centreThe Portsmouth Household Waste Recycling Centre takes garden waste, but you need to book a visit.
Soil, turf, rubble or fencing
Private clearanceThe council bin refuses turf, soil, stones, concrete and timber.
An overgrown garden or a deadline
Private clearanceOne visit covers cutting back, clearing and disposal.
Common questionsSection titled Common%20questions
Is garden waste collection free in Portsmouth?Section titled Is%20garden%20waste%20collection%20free%20in%20Portsmouth%3F
No. Portsmouth City Council charges for garden waste collection: from 1 April 2026 it is £72 a year for a 240-litre bin or £80 a year for sacks, as shown on the council's sign-up page. Council prices and rules change, so recheck that page before you subscribe.
What if my garden waste will not fit in the bin?Section titled What%20if%20my%20garden%20waste%20will%20not%20fit%20in%20the%20bin%3F
The terms and conditions say the lid must be closed and the bin not overflowing, or it will not be collected, and they do not mention side waste. You can take the extra to the recycling centre, or the terms allow up to three 240-litre bins per property. For a large amount, a private clearance removes it in one visit.
Can the council take a one-off load of garden waste?Section titled Can%20the%20council%20take%20a%20one-off%20load%20of%20garden%20waste%3F
The council pages we checked describe an annual subscription, with a one-off annual payment option for the subscription itself, but no one-off garden waste collection (see the Leaf it Out terms). For a single load, use the recycling centre or book a private garden clearance.
Related servicesSection titled Related%20services
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