Stockport council is now charging every household £59 per year to get their green bin collected — despite residents' anger.

The charge to collect garden waste will come into effect at the end of the month, when the new municipal year begins. But Stockport isn't the only Greater Manchester borough to bring the 'garden tax' in this year.

Trafford council has followed suit, with a £50 annual fee to collect that bin coming into effect later in the spring. 

No other authorities have plans to replicate the garden waste charge, but it's not the only fee Greater Mancunians need to fork out for bin collections on top of their council tax. New charges have been proposed, withdrawn, and altered for councils' latest budgets, meaning there are extra fees across the city-region.

Here the Local Democracy Reporting Service has rounded-up what you have to pay extra.

Stockport

As mentioned, Stockport's controversial £59 'garden waste permits' will be implemented from March 31. The permit lasts until March 31, 2026, and is discounted to £39 for people getting council tax support.

But it is not knocked-down if residents buy it later in the year — it's £59 if you buy it on March 31 this for 365 days, and £59 if you buy it on March 30 next year for just one day. Everyone will need to renew their permits next spring, too.

Permits can take up to three weeks to arrive, and need to be stuck below the green bin handles when they arrive. Each permit will have an address on, and garden waste will only be collected from green bins with a valid permit.

However, food waste will continue to be collected from green bins for free each week, without needing a permit. The collection day will stay the same as it is now.

Replacement bins cost £25 each, and food caddies are £10 — but you can get a full set for £75. Fees don't stop with bulky collections, as one bulky item costs £30 to pick up, two items are £50, and three to eight items cost £80.

Manchester

Manchester council doesn't charge directly for regular collections, but it does for multiple 'bulky' collections of larger items. 

Every household gets one free bulky collection per year, for up to three items. From there on, bulky collections cost £29 for three items and £58 for six.

Manchester also charges for replacement general waste grey wheelie bins, which cost £23. Replacement recycling bins are free, but were going to be paid-for from next year — until a £5.4m rebate from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority meant the town hall did a U-turn on the plans.

Salford

Salford council also doesn't charge for recycling bins, but does for black general waste receptacles. They cost £29.25 for a standard size wheelie bin.

The authority doesn't charge for extra collections a la Stockport and Trafford. However, unlike their Mancunian neighbours, Salfordians don't get a free bulky waste pick-u.

They have to fork out £50 for up to four items, and 'extra items can be collected for an additional cost', Salford council's website adds.

Bolton

Bolton was going to introduce a £45 charge for garden waste permits this year, but the plan was canned after the council had an unexpectedly-good grant from the government, giving the town hall £3m extra.

But residents are charged for bulky collections, £39 for up to five items and £78 for six to 10. 

There are also charges for new wheelie bins — £12 for the beige, burgundy, or green recycling bins, and £34 for a grey general waste bin.

Bury

There are no direct extra fees for collections in Bury, but like most other authorities it charges for replacement bins and bulky collections.

A new grey general waste bin costs £45, but to 'encourage recycling we offer a lower charge for recycling bins', according to the authority. Blue, brown, and green recycling containers cost £17 each.

For bulky pick-ups, each pick up costs £48, and the council can take up to five items in one collection.

But 'if you receive Council Tax benefit, you can request one bulky waste collection for half the price', the authority adds: "This discounted cost is applicable to one collection of up to five items, once per year. To take advantage of this discount, please call us on 0161 253 5353 to book your bulky waste collection."

Rochdale

Rochdale council is one of those authorities which has just brought in a new charge. Residents now need to stump up for replacement bins, with it costing £30 for a wheelie bin regardless of colour, but only if they have not had a replacement bin in the last five years. If they've not had a new bin in the last half-decade, a replacement is free.

It's already charged for bulky collections for some time — but a household can get two pick ups free every year. You can get two collections of up to three items for free, but any more items in those visits cost £8 each.

It's another £12 for a third collection in a year, which includes three items — and more objects cost £8 each. However, crews will only take a maximum of six items per booking.

Tameside

Tameside charges for new bins and bulky collections, but not for regular bin rounds like Stockport and Trafford.

New recycling bins cost £26.50 each, as does a general waste bin. However, residents need to get approval for a general waste bin 'via the exceptional circumstances policy', Tameside council says. 

A full set of bins will set you back £110.20. Bulky collections cost £37.50 by way of an 'administration charge' that's non refundable administration and due in advance online.

Oldham

Oldham doesn't charge for regular collections, but it does require payment for new bins and bulky loads.

Replacement general waste bins cost £35 for a 140-litre model, £39.50 for 240L, £71.50 for 360L, £94 for a lockable 360L version, and £369.50 for a 770L bin. The fees have been frozen since 2024. Replacement recycling bins are free, and you can save money by using a reconditioned wheelie bin, which costs £19 for 140L or £30 for a 240L unit.

If a resident is on Oldham council's 'assist list', they get one free bulky collection a year. For others, the charge for bulky items is £23 for up to three pieces and an additional £8 for every additional bulky item, along with an additional £12 fee for each white good. Bulky item collections are outsourced to a company called Bulky Bob.

Wigan

Wigan council charges £50 for a replacement large wheelie bin, and £48 for a small wheelie bin. A standard food caddy costs £6, and large kerbside caddy is £10.

It doesn't charge for the first two bulky waste collections in a year, up to five items per visit. Any extra collections in a 12 month period will cost £25 for up to five items.

Trafford

Trafford is the other council to introduce a 'garden tax'. 

It requires residents subscribe to the annual garden waste service, which costs £50 per bin per year, if they want garden rubbish gone. However, if you subscribe online, you can take advantage of a £5 discount per bin.

It also charges for new bins, namely £127 for a full set, or £37 for any wheelie bin up to 240L. This is reduced to £15 for 'householders receiving Council Tax Benefit, (excluding Single Persons Reductions) or Housing Benefit'.

A bulky collection costs £40 per visit, 'which covers up to five items'.

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