BSL Council Services Accessibility
  1. West Dunbartonshire Council
  2. Recycling and Waste

Changes to Bin Collections from November

Reduce landfill and increase recycling

From 10 November 2025, West Dunbartonshire Council will be changing the way household bins are collected. Sampling has shown that up to 70% of items placed in the general waste bin could be recycled. These changes will help to increase recycling rates, reduce taxes we pay on waste and improve the efficiency of our waste services.

How Your Bin Collections Are Changing

Your household will continue to receive a weekly collection. This will be on a three-week rolling basis with two recycling collections and one general waste collection in each three-week period.

Every household will receive a pack containing all the information you need. This will include a calendar which should be referred to on a week-by-week basis to ensure you are presenting the correct bin. Within the pack, there will also be a sticker which must be attached to your general waste bin to ensure it is collected.

This sticker is weatherproof and tamper-proof and should be placed on the back of your black or green general waste bin, underneath the handles.

Please note, only bins with this sticker will be collected. If you have an additional general waste bin but do not have a specific need for it (as outlined below), it will not be collected by our crews.

Requirement for Additional Bins and Special Circumstances

If you have a large family, children in nappies, or clinical waste, you can apply for an extra bin. If you already have a second bin, you can apply for an additional sticker instead. To find out more or to apply, email wasteaware@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.

  • Assisted collections will continue as normal. You must still attach the sticker to your general waste bin. Our waste operatives will know which bin is due for collection on a particular day.

  • Flats with communal bins will receive a pack with a sticker for their general waste bin. All residents in a communal area should make sure that the communal bins have a sticker. If you live in a multi-storey block, your collections are not affected. You should continue to dispose of your waste as you currently do.

Recycling and Waste

The full details of what can be recycled from home and at communal recycling points are available on our website.

If you find that your blue recycling bin is filling up too quickly, you can request an additional recycling bin free of charge. To request a new bin, please email wasteaware@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.

Addressing Common Concerns

  • Will this cause missed collections? Our crews work hard to collect all bins across West Dunbartonshire. This change will not stop missed bins entirely, but if a bin is missed, you can report it using our online Chatbot. This is the quickest and easiest way to be kept informed of our progress. The Chatbot can be accessed on our missed bin page.

  • Will this lead to fly-tipping? We do not expect an increase in fly-tipping. Other councils that have made similar changes have not seen an increase. The change in our schedule is simply to encourage residents to recycle more.

  • Will this attract vermin? It is unlikely that vermin will be attracted to your bins. Your food waste will continue to be collected every two weeks and many items currently put in your general waste bin can be recycled instead.

  • Will my Council Tax be reduced? Council Tax helps to support delivery of a wide range of Council services and all households in Scotland are required to pay unless exempt. Council Tax is not linked to the provision of any one service and therefore a variation to how a service is delivered, in this case waste collections, will not result in a change to Council Tax payments.

  • Will civic amenity sites be busier? Based on information from other councils that have made similar changes, we do not expect an increase in demand at the civic amenity sites at Dalmoak and Erskine Ferry Road.

  • What if I do not receive my sticker before the new cycle starts? Information packs, including stickers, will be issued from Monday 22 September 2025. If you haven’t received yours by Monday 13 October, please email wasteaware@west-dunbarton.gov.uk