The postcode lottery of garden waste collection costs across Britain has been laid bare, with residents in some areas paying much more to get rid of it than others. 

Residents in three council districts in the south of England pay the most, according to research by private waste collection firm Divert Waste. 

On an annual basis, residents in the Waverley council area, which covers the towns Godalming, Farnham, and Haslemere in Surrey, pay £136.70 to have their green waste taken away every fortnight. 

But the council defended its charges, telling This is Money that the annual charge for the service is £87.60, with the additional £49.10 cost only applying in years that someone needed to purchase a new garden waste bin.

East Hampshire had the next most expensive annual bin collection subscription at £130, the study said, followed by Kingston upon Thames at £104. 

Kingston said buying a garden waste bin costs £24 plus an administrative fee of £20. If more than one bin is ordered, there is a fee of £10 for each additional bin. 

Other councils where Britons pay a sizeable sum for a 12-month garden waste collection subscription include Barnet, at £103.80 and Brighton and Hove, at £102 for the year.

Some councils charge per bag of waste, rather than an annual subscription.

In the Isle of Wight the annual garden waste subscription service costs £102.

Residents in Lewisham and Enfield in London also pay £100 or more for their annual garden waste collection subscription service. 

In Birmingham, garden waste collections remain suspended amid strike action.

Divert Waste's analysis of council data found that residents in London and the South East of England are charged the highest sums for garden waste collections in Britain.  

According to Divert, which analysed 328 councils, the South East of England has the highest average garden waste collection cost in Britain, at £72.14. 

London followed closely behind at £68.09, with the South West of England coming in with an average cost of £66.78.

Some councils offer free garden waste collection, but there is sometimes a limit on how much can be disposed of on each collection day. 

The South West and North East had no councils recorded as offering a free garden waste service, Divert said.

Only 3 per cent of councils in the South East of England offer a free service, despite the region having the highest average garden waste collection costs.

Where are the cheapest garden waste collection services? 

Deciphering what the cheapest locations are for garden waste collection services is not straightforward. 

This is because some councils charge per sack or bag rather than offering an annual subscription service.

According to Divert's analysis, Ceredigion County Council had the lowest listed charge at £2.30 per bag, which can be collected fortnightly. Caerphilly County Borough Council followed at £4.10 per sack.

Divert said: 'These lower costs show why it is important to look beyond headline prices. 

'A per-bag charge may suit households with small gardens, but could become less practical for those producing larger volumes of grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, branches, or seasonal garden waste.'

Bury Borough Council was the lowest annual-style charge identified in England, at £17.50. The council said the lower charge was designed to encourage recycling. 

Yorkshire and the Humber also came in below the average in Britain, with an average charge of £29.84.

At £5.34, Northern Ireland recorded the lowest average garden waste collection cost, largely because many councils include garden waste as part of existing kerbside collection services. 

Divert's analysis established that 46 councils offer some form of free garden waste service, although what this includes varies. Divert said: 'Some free services may only apply to specific container types, limited collection periods, certain property types, or areas where garden waste is included within wider kerbside recycling.'

Residents under Doncaster Council get a free garden waste collection service, unless they want more than one bin. The annual subscription charge is £47.50 for the first additional green bin. 

Residents under Hull City Council get free garden waste collections, even if an additional bin is required.  

No free service was offered by councils across the South West and North East of England, according to the analysis.  

John Verity, managing director at Divert, said: 'Garden waste collection charges have become a real postcode lottery for residents across the UK, as in some areas, households can have their garden waste collected kerbside, whereas others require a separate subscription to be taken out.'

He added: 'With more people spending time in their gardens over the summer, it is worth checking your council’s terms before signing up to an annual subscription.

'Households with only a small amount of garden waste may find home composting, sharing a bin with a neighbour where their council allows it, or using a local household recycling centre works out better. 

'But where the waste is coming from a business activity, property clearance, landlord maintenance or a commercial gardener, it should not be placed into a domestic garden waste collection. In those cases, they need to use a licensed waste carrier or a commercial waste service and keep the right paperwork.'

Since 1 March, councils in England have been compelled to provide separate collections for food and garden waste; paper and card; all other dry recyclable materials including glass, metal and plastic and cartons; and non-recyclable waste.

The requirements apply to all households including flats and communal properties. 

The policy change is designed to increase recycling rates and end the postcode lottery by streamlining collections.