Garden waste collections will remain free of charge until 12 August 2024 when this will become a paid for service. Those who wish to have garden waste collected by the Council must purchase and display a permit.
When is the scheme being introduced and why?
This charge will come into force on 12 August 2024 and residents can now purchase a permit:
There is no statutory requirement to collect garden waste and Council Tax does not cover its collection. Due to reducing budgets and rising costs, the Council cannot continue to offer this service free of charge. In order to retain a garden waste collection, it was necessary to introduce a charge to contribute towards the cost of its provision.
How will it work?
This is an opt-in service. Everyone living in West Dunbartonshire, whether a homeowner or tenant, will be required to pay £60 per year if they want their garden waste collected.
In 2024/25, as the permit scheme is being introduced part way through the season, the cost has been reduced to £26 to reflect the number of collections remaining.
This is a one-off charge for fortnightly collections between 12th August and the end of November 2024 and not for one individual collection. Collections of garden waste will cease on November 30th and will resume in April next year. During this period, residents can compost their garden waste or dispose of it at either of the Council’s recycling centres.
Those who purchase a permit will be sent a sticker to display on their brown bin, allowing waste operatives to clearly see the bins to collect garden waste from.
Do I have to purchase a garden waste permit?
Residents do not have to buy a permit but garden waste will only be collected from those households who have purchased and displayed.
What does the permit entitle me to?
The Garden Waste Permits for 2024/25 will be valid from 12 August 2024 to 30 November 2024 however due to the two-week collection cycle, your last collection may be in advance of this date. During this part-year period, you will receive fortnightly garden waste uplifts. In 2025/26, residents with a permit will receive fortnightly garden waste collections through the season of April to November.
When should I buy my permit?
We would encourage residents to apply in good time before the implementation date of 12 August. To ensure residents benefit from all collections within the permit period, we suggest applying at least 3 weeks in advance of this date by 22 July. You can still apply for a permit at any point before the collections cease in November but there will be no reduction in price.
Where should I attach my permit?
When you receive your permit, you should attach it to the back of the brown bin below the handles. There will be clear instructions provided on how to affix the permit to your garden waste bin when this is sent out to you.
I have more than one brown bin – do I need an additional permit?
If a resident intends to dispose of garden waste in more than one brown bin, a permit is required for each bin. Brown bins which have been used to dispose of garden waste will only be uplifted if a permit is displayed.
What can be disposed of in my brown bin if I have a garden waste permit?
Find out what you should be using your brown bin for on the what goes in my brown bin page.