Garden waste collection

Garden waste registration is open and will close on 2 September 2025.

If you pay by direct debit, you do not need to register again. We will email you to confirm that we have automatically renewed your permit. If you would like to cancel your subscription for 2025 / 2026 and pay by direct debit, please do this three days before your next payment is taken.

You now need to sign in or register with mygovscot or access myaccount to register for the garden waste service. This allows you to keep track of your garden waste subscriptions.

If you would like your garden waste collected regularly, we offer a paid-for garden waste service.  

  • Permits cost £45 each for one year, starting in November.
  • The 2025 / 2026 service year runs from 3 November 2025 to 1 November 2026.
  • We collect your brown bin once every two weeks.
  • You can pay by our direct debit option or make a one-off payment. If you pay by direct debit, your permit will renew automatically every year. You do not need to register again.
  • If you meet our eligibility criteria for an exemption you can receive the service for free but must still register.
  • You can order multiple permits.
  • Your permit must be clearly visible on your bin as we can only empty bins with a valid permit sticker.
  • You can only receive the service if you sign up during a registration window.
  • We pause the service for one month during the festive period.
  • Refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

What goes in your garden waste bin 

You can put 

  • flowers, plants and weeds 
  • grass cuttings and leaves 
  • hedge clippings, twigs and small branches 

in your garden waste bin.

We can not empty your brown bin if you put in

  • animal waste and bedding 
  • plant pots 
  • soil or turf
  • any other types of waste.

Receiving your 2025 / 2026 permit 

When you sign up for the 2025 / 2026 service, we send you a confirmation email to let you know that you have successfully registered. 

We send your calendar and permit sticker(s) to you by Wednesday 29 October 2025. If you haven’t received your calendar and permit by 29 October 2025, please let us know after 30 October and no later than 30 November 2025. If you do not receive your permit, please complete our contact waste form.

Please stick your permit on your brown bin as soon as you receive it, making sure it is clearly visible, and not over the top of any old permits. 

If you signed up for the 2025 / 2026 service and haven’t received your permit by the end of the following month, please let us know as soon as possible by completing our contact waste form.

Festive pause

We do not collect garden waste from 15 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. After 11 January 2026, we will collect your brown bin on your next normal collection day. 

On your first January collection you can put your Christmas tree in your garden waste bin. If it is over seven feet, please chop it in half and remove the branches. 

Damaged or missing bins 

If you need a brown bin or it is missing or damaged, you can order a new garden waste bin. Please include your full name, address and the reason for your request. 

Other ways to recycle garden waste 

Brown bin

Garden waste collections during icy and snowy weather

Find out how cold weather can affect your garden waste collections