Serving as an interim update from The Little Green Book 2025, The Little Green Magazine provides a snapshot into some of the latest collection technology and communication insights within the waste management sector, specifically related to garden waste collections.

Issue 1, published September 2026, is the first from PermiServ as part of Routeware. It brings together case studies, research and practical advice from councils and collection teams across the UK. Every question, gripe and hard-won fix in its pages came from people doing the job for real.

Here’s a taste of what’s inside.

Why garden waste matters more than ever

Since 31 March 2026, Simpler Recycling has required councils in England to collect garden waste separately whenever a household asks for it. Garden waste is no longer the “not-so-hot potato” no one wants to hold. PermiServ’s research found around 92% of UK councils now collect it, and roughly 84% of those charge for the service.

The magazine looks at why that matters, from lower disposal costs to locally produced compost. It also explores how a subscription base gives councils a way to promote other services, such as bulky waste collections or leisure offers.

The latest in collection technology

Several features show how data and software are reshaping garden waste rounds and renewals:

• Route optimisation in North Somerset. North Somerset Environment Company used Routeware’s EasyRoute to rezone its garden waste service and decouple it from residual and recycling rounds. Crews reviewed every draft route, and the wider Service Change Project earned an iESE Certificate of Excellence in 2026.
• Subscriptions Booster Tool at Highland Council. Covering an area the size of Belgium, Highland had seen uptake sit around 30% for years with no clear reason why. Analysing subscriber data with PermiServ revealed roughly 24,000 loyal customers, a 10% churn rate and thousands of lapsed subscribers no one had tracked.
• Permits vs in-cab verification. Our Agony Aunt, Ms Municipal, shares survey findings from 22 councils: most run both together, catching fraud that neither spots alone.
• What’s coming next. The issue explains what Digital Waste Tracking and the 2028 expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to energy-from-waste could mean for council budgets. It also introduces new garden waste sales and insight features launching in October 2026 at no extra cost to customers.

Communication insights from The Little Green Event 2026

A big theme of this issue is that how you communicate a service matters as much as the service itself. Highlights include:

• Trafford’s second-time success. After a first scheme was paused, Trafford relaunched in 2025 with eight months’ lead time, phased comms and well-timed bin tags. The result was 51,000 permits, with 61% of households with gardens subscribing.
• Behavioural science for waste services. Dominic Ridley-Moy of the Behaviour Change Network explains why “No fly-tipping” signs can backfire. He also shares how simplifying a 15-step renewal form at Havering lifted online renewals from 20% to 46%.
• Smarter, segmented messaging. Routeware’s ReCollect apps, used by around 30 UK councils, let councils tailor garden waste messages to returning, lapsed and first-time subscribers. Waste Wizard data shows garden waste is among the most-searched items.
• Newcastle’s digital shift. With ReCollect and the “Newcastle Bins” app, Newcastle has reached over 75,000 addresses and logged more than a million bin-calendar checks. That’s a million calls the contact centre didn’t have to take.

Ms Municipal also answers practical questions, from stopping fake permits to the best time to launch a service (hint: avoid April).

Read the full issue

Whether you’re planning your next renewal campaign, reviewing your rounds or preparing for Digital Waste Tracking, The Little Green Magazine is packed with ideas you can put to work. There’s even a waste-themed crossword for when you need a break.

We’re continuing to gather insights alongside LARAC ahead of a fuller edition next year. Inside the magazine you’ll find a one-question survey that takes seconds to answer and shapes what we cover next.

 Download The Little Green Magazine and join The Little Green network on LinkedIn to stay in the loop. You can also meet the team at Routeware’s User Conference in York on 21st October, the Digital Waste Tracking Conference on 20th October or the Collections Conference on 19th November.

About Routeware 

Routeware is a leading provider of smart waste and recycling technology solutions. Serving municipalities and haulers across North America and the United Kingdom, Routeware’s integrated platform includes routing and dispatch software, in-cab computing, digital customer engagement, billing systems and data-driven insights to help customers improve service delivery, reduce costs and achieve sustainability goals. Founded 25 years ago, Routeware is trusted by over 1,500 customers to digitise operations and support resilient communities. For more information, visit routeware.com.