UK households are being urged to think twice before tossing garden waste into their green bins, as experts reveal one common mistake could be disrupting recycling systems across the UK.
According to My Home Improvements, a growing number of households are unknowingly contaminating their green waste collections with soil, a material many assume is safe, but is actually banned by most local authorities. While it might seem harmless, soil is too heavy, difficult to process, and often full of pests or diseases that can ruin entire batches of compost. “It’s one of the most common mistakes we see,” a spokesperson from My Home Improvements said. “Soil might look natural, but it causes major issues for councils trying to turn garden waste into compost. Even a little bit can ruin a whole batch.”
Contaminated collections often have to be sent to landfill instead, racking up costs for councils and harming the environment. The warning comes as summer gardening peaks, with many gardeners clearing flower beds, repotting plants, or redesigning their outdoor spaces.
Residents are advised to check what can and can’t go in their green bin via their local council’s website and to dispose of soil through proper channels such as household waste recycling centres. However, it’s not just soil you need to watch out for.
Other banned items include: Japanese knotweed, food waste, plastic bags and plant pots, pet waste, timber, rubble, and treated wood.
Throwing any of these into your garden bin could result in your waste being left uncollected, or worse, a fine.
Experts recommend checking your council’s garden waste guide, as every local authority has different rules.
As well as this, using a compost heap and bagging things separately can help to avoid any issues too.
The spokesperson added: “Garden bins are not a catch-all for anything green. What feels natural to toss may be harmful to the environment, your community, or the composting process.
“If you’re unsure, always double-check before you throw something away. The five minutes it takes to look it up could save you a £400 fine and a big headache down the line.”