We’d like to remind you that the current garden waste service year ends on 8 November.
To continue to receive collections in the next service year which runs until 7 November 2021, residents need to renew their permit or sign up for one by 2pm on 9 September. The cost remains at £25 per bin.
The current service year for fortnightly brown bin collections was due to end on 4 October but we’re extending current permits to make up for the service being temporarily suspended in springtime due to coronavirus. The current health pandemic also means that we’re encouraging residents to register online and we’ve made this easier by making the MyGov sign in optional.
Unfortunately, you’re not able to pay in person at locality offices this year as they are being used as community resilience centres for coronavirus, but you can also pay over the phone. Phone lines are likely to be busy so if you’re unable to register online yourself, we’d encourage you to ask a friend or relative to help you.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said:
Just over 40,000 people have already signed up to receive the service, but I would urge anyone who wants to continue having their brown bin collected but hasn’t yet registered to do so in the next couple of weeks to avoid a gap in collections. The quickest and easiest way to do this is online, which is why 90% of the people who have already registered have done so via our website. We know not everyone has access to the internet though, and there is an option for registration over the phone.
We’ve made a decision to keep our charge at £25 per bin. This is one of the lowest annual fees in Scotland among local authorities operating a similar service and works out at just under 50 pence a week.
Emails and letters were sent to all 70,900 current subscribers to the service advising them on how to renew their permits.
About the service
- Permits cost £25 per brown bin. A one-off payment of £25 will be taken by debit or credit card, unless you’re exempt from paying because you receive Council Tax Reduction.
- The deadline to register is 2pm on 9 September and the quickest and easiest way to do this is on our website.
- You can also register and pay over the phone by calling 0131 357 2800. Please note we expect phone lines to be busy and there may be long waiting times. Phonelines are open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3.40pm Friday. Please note we don’t accept cash or cheques.
- The deadline to register is 2pm on 9 September and the quickest and easiest way to do this is on our website.
- The next service year will run from 9 November 2020 – 7 November 2021.
- Brown bins will be emptied once every two weeks, except over the festive period when there will be no collections between 14 December 2020 and 10 January 2021
- There will be another opportunity to sign up to the new service year, but the payment will remain at £25 and permits will be valid until 7 November 2021.
- Once we’ve received your payment, we’ll send you a permit sticker between 23 October and 4 November to put on your brown bin before the new service year starts. We can only empty bins with valid permit stickers.
Exemptions
If you are a low income household and receive Council Tax Reduction (formerly called Council Tax Benefit) or you, or someone who lives with you, has been classed as severely mentally impaired, the service will be free, but you’ll still need to register for the service. Other council tax discounts, such as single occupancy or disabled person discount, don’t qualify for this reduction. Households that pay for garden aid are not exempt from paying for the service.
Further information about the service is available on our website, including details about alternative ways to pay, exemptions, how to pay on behalf of someone else and our terms and conditions.