Gardens can be a huge point of pleasure and relaxation for many homeowners. If you’re looking to have your garden completely rehauled or are planning to hire a professional to work on some simple garden maintenance, it’s vital to know the likely cost of garden waste clearance once the job is completed.
Our guide will walk you through garden waste clearance services, how much they cost, what impacts their cost, ways to save money and how you can hire a professional to take on the job for you!
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How Much Does Garden Waste Clearance Cost?
Garden waste clearance is likely to differ in cost depending on the size and volume of the amount of garden waste you need clearing.
The table below breaks down average costs for small, medium and large garden waste clearance.
| Size of Organic Waste | Estimated Cost | Labour Costs | Time Required | Total Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | £20 | £75 | 30 minutes | £95 |
| Medium | £100 | £150 | 1 hour and 30 minutes | £250 |
| Large | £150 | £150 | 2 hours and 30 minutes | £300 |
The more garden waste there is to clear the longer the time to remove it will take, increasing the labour costs and therefore making the job more expensive.
The labour costs for any garden waste clearance will likely be included in the total price of the job but make sure you speak to any professional you intend to hire beforehand to find out what their policy is on labour costs.
Use HouseholdQuotes to find a qualified gardener near you to dispose of your garden waste.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Removing Garden Waste?
Several factors will play a role in calculating a garden clearance price. Simply put, your main concern should be the amount of rubbish there is to remove but there are also a few other factors to keep in mind.
Volume
The more volume of garden waste you have, the higher the total cost of the job will be. This is because more garden waste not only means more labour to physically remove the waste from your garden, but more trips to dispose of the waste.
If you’re looking to decrease the cost of the job, consider cutting down some large items where possible or even doing some of your own garden waste removal beforehand.
Weight
If your garden waste weight is quite heavy, you may be charged by weight instead of volume as the weight will impact the amount of labour needed.
For larger, heavier waste removal the average cost will be £150 per tonne and the time required to do the job will also be longer. It may also require more than one individual to remove the waste and if this is the case you can expect the total cost of the job to increase.
Type of Waste
The type of garden waste you’re looking to have cleared will also play a factor in the final cost.
Organic waste such as lawn clippings, weeds, or tree branches, are usually relatively simple to collect and dispose of.
Non-organic waste, on the other hand, such as gutter waste, electrics, plasterboard or even hazardous waste will be more expensive to have cleared and disposed of as it may take more than just a simple trip to the tip.
Skip Hire
If you’re looking to get rid of garden waste yourself, without hiring in a company or professional, then you may need to hire a skip for your property. You will then fill the skip and arrange for its collection.
| Size of Skip | Cost |
|---|---|
| Small | £60 |
| Medium | £250 |
| Large | £400 |
You can expect to pay a substantial amount more for a larger skip than a smaller one. Prices will also vary depending on where your property is located in the UK.
If you’re looking to only get rid of organic green waste, the cost of your skip will be lower than a skip that is being used to get rid of hazardous waste or plasterboard.
Skip Hire Permit
If you do hire a skip to help get rid of garden waste, there are a few things to bear in mind. A skip will typically last you one to two weeks depending on your council and their guidelines.
You will need to get a skip permit depending on where you are in the UK. The average cost is between £30-£35.
The skip permit is normally added onto the overall hire charge, but it’s a good idea to double-check with your skip provider when booking the skip where the permit charge is included or will be an additional cost.
Landscaping
If you’re doing a total garden rehaul, you may be thinking of hiring a landscaper to come in and help you get the project done. Hiring a landscaper can involve a wide variety of jobs, such as:
- Planting flower beds
- Planting flower borders
- Foundation plantings
- Planting trees
- Driveway construction
- Walkway construction
- Fences
- Garden features, such as fountains
- Water garden construction
If you do hire a landscaper for any of the above garden maintenance or construction tasks, then it is likely the landscaper will also be able to help with garden waste clearance.
The cost for this will normally be included in their overall pricing and will depend on the volume of the waste and its weight. Typical prices will be between £100-£300 and could be included in the total landscaping project cost or be an additional charge depending on the individual or company.
How Do I Save Money on Garden Waste Clearance?
There are a few things you can do to save money on garden waste clearance.
Firstly, consider clearing the waste yourself. If you’re able-bodied and have access to a vehicle, you can fill the vehicle with the garden waste and take it to your local tip to save on the cost of hiring a professional.
If the waste has been reduced in size beforehand, this will make it easier to carry from your garden.
If you have a compost bin, then it’s an ideal situation to use the compost to dispose of garden waste, though this may take longer than driving to a tip to clear the waste. It’s also possible that the garden waste removal through compost will have to be completed in several batches depending on the decomposition times.
Depending on your location in the UK, some local councils do offer a waste removal service. This typically means that you will be given a green wheelie bin which will be collected on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
Some councils do give out this service for free whereas others charge a small fee. The average charge is between £150-£200 per year.
The best way to keep costs down is to let HouseholdQuotes find you a qualified professional to clear your garden waste for a price that works for you and saves you the trouble!
Click To Get QuotesWhat’s Involved in Clearing and Removing Garden Waste?
If you do choose to hire a professional to remove your garden waste, it is typically quite a simple process.
The waste will first need to be prepared for removal. This involves breaking down any larger chunks of waste or shredding it if necessary so that it is easier to bag up and move.
The waste will then be removed from your garden and disposed of. Depending on the type and amount of garden waste you need clearing, this job can take anywhere from an hour to a full day to complete.
What Type of Garden Waste Can Be Removed?
There are two main types of garden waste.
Organic waste such as shrubs, plants and soil can be easily removed and will come to a cheaper cost than non-organic waste.
Non-organic waste, such as old paving slabs, timber and construction materials can also be removed by a garden waste clearance service but will usually be more expensive than organic waste removal.
If you have larger waste, such as furniture or toys, that are being kept in the garden then they may need to be put in a skip rather than being cleared by a gardener. This, again, will depend on the size of the waste and on the professional you’re hoping to hire.
How Do I Find and Hire Someone to Clear My Garden?
Try and source recommendations from your friends or family who may have recently had some of their garden waste removed.
Use HouseholdQuotes to find a qualified tradesperson or company for your garden waste removal.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
To make sure you’ve found the best person for the job, we recommend you ask them for the below:
- For a written quote. Ensure you find out whether the quote includes the cost of skip hire or waste disposal.
- If they are a licensed waste carrier. This will prevent fly-tipping and any fines you may incur.
- For their experience.
- For their references. If they’re able to provide you with references you can be sure of their ability and may even be able to see some of their previous work.
- If they and their tools are insured. This can protect you from lawsuits if they or your property is damaged when they come to your home.
Final Checklist
This checklist will make sure you’ve got everything you need for cleaning and sealing a patio:
- Consider the volume of the garden waste and if you can cut any of it down beforehand.
- If you want to cut costs, consider removing the garden waste yourself.
- If you have a lot of organic waste and a compost bin, then put as much of the organic waste as possible into the compost.
- Consider looking into council garden waste clearance services. This could be a beneficial option if you’re anticipating have a consistent amount of garden waste that you need clearing.
- If you don’t want to go down the DIY route, then use HouseholdQuotes to find a professional who can take on the job for you.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Hire a Gardener or Landscaper to Clear Garden Waste?
If you think the job is more than just a removal of some lawn trimmings and cut-offs from shrubs, then it is recommended you consider contacting a landscaper or gardener and receiving their quote for the job.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Clear My Garden?
As Spring is the best season for garden maintenance, it’s also the best season for garden clearance because it’s likely you’ll have more garden waste in the Spring than in Autumn or Winter.
What Are the Advantages of Clearing My Garden?
With a clear and well-maintained garden, your property value will increase as it is a job any potential buyer will not need to undertake themselves when considering purchasing your property.
You’ll have a much lower risk of pests with a clean garden, as piles of rubbish and waste are the perfect home for mice and rats which can, in turn, attract larger predators. Not only is this unpleasant, but it also can pose safety risks in the long run.
Garden waste can also be a safety risk on its own. Cuts, scrapes and falls can all be a result of untended piles of garden waste and, if caution is not taken, the waste could lead to potential injury.