Thanet District Council relaunches popular leafing bin scheme for a cleaner, greener autumn

Thanet District Council is delighted to announce the return of its successful leafing bin scheme this autumn. This year the council is inviting residents, schools, community gardens, and businesses to help transform fallen leaves into valuable compost. The initiative turns the annual challenge of autumn leaves into an environmental win. It relaunches today, Friday 31 October 2025, and will run until Christmas 2025.

Following a highly successful trial last year, the scheme is now being extended across the whole of Thanet. Opening it up to the whole district will mean greater environmental benefits. Before the scheme started in 2024, all fallen leaves were collected with general street litter. This prevented them from being composted. The initial, staff-only, leaf picking patrols in 2023 successfully diverted nine tonnes of leaves for composting, demonstrating the significant impact of this approach.

How it works:

• Request a bin: Fill out the online form to request a dedicated wheeled bin for leaf collection.
• Fill it up: Use the bin exclusively for fallen leaves from your area.
• Request a collection: Once the bin is full, let us know by completing the form. Our Waste and Recycling team will collect it for composting at the next available date.

The collected leaves are transformed into high-quality compost, diverting valuable organic waste from disposal and supporting the health of the local environment. There are 100 bins of different sizes available to participants.

Cllr Steve Albon, Thanet District Council Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services said: “I’m personally very pleased to confirm that we are bringing back the leafing bin scheme. The trial last year proved that there was demand for this. It’s a great way to help members of our community to play an active role in keeping Thanet clean and green. The scheme not only helps to manage fallen leaves more sustainably but also creates a stronger sense of environmental responsibility across the district.”

In collaboration with Wiggly Wigglers, a farm specialising in sustainable and eco-friendly garden products, participants can also enjoy exclusive rewards and offers. These include entry into a grand prize draw to win a year’s free green waste subscription, a 15% discount on Wiggly Wigglers orders before Christmas with code THANET15, and a chance to win a Wiggly Worm Farm.

A spokesperson from Wiggly Wigglers commented: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Thanet District Council to help turn this year’s leaf fall into something truly valuable. At Wiggly Wigglers, we think leaves are nothing short of amazing — they’re nature’s brown gold and the secret ingredient to great home composting. You can create rich, living soil that will feed your plants, lock in carbon, and bring your garden to life.”

To inspire the next generation, any participating school can book a free workshop. Thanet District Council’s Education Officer will plan a visit to teach children about decomposition, soil health, and the importance of recycling leaves. These hands-on sessions will include creating a jam jar wormery to observe nature’s recyclers in action.

Details of the leafing scheme, wormery information and schools sessions can be found on the Thanet District Council website.