Council remind residents to sign up for garden waste permit

From this date, only bins with garden waste and bearing a valid permit will be emptied.

Food waste will still be gathered from brown bins year-round, irrespective of permit status.

Permits covering the period from August 12 to November 30, 2024, are available now online for £26.

Residents who can't navigate the online purchase can dial the council on 01389 738 282.

Permits valid from April to November in the following years will carry a price tag of £60.

Sent via mail, these permits come as stickers indicating the recipient's address and should be fixed to brown bins.

Instructions for attachment will accompany the permits.

The garden waste permit isn't compulsory.

Those opting out of the permit can still utilise their brown bins for food waste disposal.

The council made the decision to roll out this service in March, aligning West Dunbartonshire with other Scottish councils that charge for garden waste collection.

Councillor David McBride, convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said: "I would encourage anyone who wants to continue to get their garden waste uplifted from August 12 to apply for a permit straight away.

"Council tax does not cover a statutory collection of garden waste and, up until this point, we provided this free of charge.

"We have held off introducing this charge for a few years and are reluctantly doing so to allow the service to continue for those who opt for it.

"Otherwise, the service would face being scrapped."

Cllr Lawrence O’Neill added: "This council faced a £17million budget shortfall for 2024/25, and an increase in landfill tax rates by the Scottish Government this year.

"It is important for residents who wish to sign up to do so as soon as they can so they benefit from the maximum number of uplifts this year."

Residents seeking more information can access updated FAQs and sign up to the scheme at West Dunbartonshire Council's website.