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Frequently Asked Questions

If you cannot find the information you want in our service pages, you may be able to find it on this main FAQ page.
After looking at the statistics of how users browse our site we have now focused on the most used services as priority, many hundreds of information pages on our site that were accessed rarely or sometimes not at all have now been removed to de-clutter and make our site easier to use.

However we still accept that some information is desirable to help our users better understand aspects of how Carlisle City Council services work, so we provide FAQ lists on most our section landing pages.
All FAQs including any FAQ that does not fit in any of our our site sections are accessible here in the master FAQ page.

Master FAQ ( select a category or search for answers )

Garden Waste

Garden waste

Please note, during the Covid 19 pandemic, garden waste is being collected every 4 weeks.  Collections will return to the normal schedule from Monday 22nd June 2020.  Please use the postcode checker for your collection dates.

Garden waste is collected from the kerbside every fortnight (every six weeks in winter) and recycled into environmentally friendly nutrient-rich compost. The compost is sold wholesale to A W Jenkinson Forest Products in Penrith. 

We no longer offer addtitional garden waste bins.  Alternatively home compost bins are available from just £7 (excluding delivery, while stocks last).  You can also take additional garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre (Rome Street, Carlisle or Townfoot Industrial Estate, Brampton). 

Find out if you are part of the garden waste recycling scheme. Your calendar will only show what recycling is available to you.

What can go in my garden waste wheeled bin?

Yes please Please Do Not deposit
  • Grass clippings 
  • Plants and flowers
  • Leaves
  • Hedge prunings
  • Small branches
  • Twigs
  • REAL Christmas trees chopped up to fit into the bin
  • Weeds
  • Ash
  • Kitchen waste
  • Food waste
  • Stones, rubble and soil
  • Pet waste
  • Garden chemicals
  • Vacuum cleaner contents
  • Biodegradable/Corn Starch bags (take too long to break down)

Please do not overfill your bin as our equipment may not be able to lift it (max 100kg).  Make sure the lid is closed to prevent water getting in.  Please do not line your bin with black sacks/liners as we cannot recycle these!  Thank you.

Kitchen Food Waste

We cannot accept food waste in the Garden Waste bin due to the Infectious Diseases Act legislation (external link) following Foot and Mouth disease. We compost our waste in large open heaps known as 'windrows' and any kitchen waste that may have come into contact with meat products (for example, if cut up on the same chopping board), may spread airborne disease.

It is legal to put kitchen food waste into a home composting bin. Food waste digesters are available at discounted proces, orders can be placed from the Great Green Systems website,

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