Garden waste registration is open
Registration to join the current service year for the garden waste service is now open.
The current service year started on 8 November 2021 and ends on 6 November 2022. If you would like to receive collections, and have not already registered for this service year, you can sign up now. If you have a permit for this service year already, you do not need to register again just now.
Permits cost £35 per brown bin and will be emptied once every two weeks. The payment remains £35 and your permit will be valid until 6 November 2022.
To make it easier for you to register for our garden waste service, we have extended the registration period. It takes around four weeks to process applications, including adding addresses to our routes. This means that if you register in December, we will send your permit to you in January and your collections will begin in February.
If you stay in a traditional tenement, with the numbering system 1F1, 1F2, please use this format when registering. The flat numbers follow the flow of the staircase, for each floor. For example, 3F2 should be interpreted as 3rd floor, flat 2, which is the second flat from the stair.
If you want to share a bin with your neighbours, you will need to agree on one resident acting as the lead in paying for the service against their address and reporting any issues.
You can register on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.
If you are a commercial site, please see details below.
Read the garden waste terms and conditions
You will need to renew your permit every year before it expires to continue receiving the service.
You no longer have to use your mygovscot myaccount . However, if you choose not to log in, you won't see the history of your garden waste permits on your mygovscot myaccount.
Do you need to pay?
You do not have to sign up for the service and if you choose not to, you will not receive garden waste collections.
If you receive Council Tax Reduction formerly called Council Tax Benefit or because someone in your household is severely mentally impaired, the service will continue to be free, however you will still need to register to receive the service.
Other reductions like single occupancy discount and disabled person discount don't qualify for free garden waste collections.
If you are a Garden Aid customer, you must still register to receive the service. If you do not pay for Garden Aid, because you receive Council Tax Reduction or because someone in your household is severely mentally impaired, you will not need to pay for your garden waste collection. If you do not qualify, then you will need to pay for the service.
If you have previously had your garden waste collected by Tiphereth you will also need to register and pay to receive the service.
Commercial sites
We don't offer a commercial garden waste service but a limited number of other organisations namely bowling clubs, lawn tennis courts, and croquet clubs can register for the garden waste service.
If you are a registering on behalf of one of these organisations, please use the registration form, or call us on
0131 357 2800.
The charge remains the same as residential customers - £35 per permit.
When we receive your registration form, we will check that your organisation is eligible for the service. If it is, we will email you a Waste Transfer Note within two weeks. When we receive your registration form, we will check that your organisation is eligible for the service. If it is, we will email you a Waste Transfer Note within two weeks. You must sign and return this to by the deadline we give you.
If your organisation is not eligible for the service or you do not return the Waste Transfer Note by the deadline, we will refund your fee and cancel your registration.You must sign and return this to by the deadline we give you.
If your organisation is not eligible for the service or you do not return the Waste Transfer Note by the deadline, we will refund your fee and cancel your registration.
Display your permit sticker
Once you have paid for the service we will send you a permit sticker and a collection calendar at the end of the following month . You must put this on your brown bin before you put your bin out for collection, as we will only empty bins with valid permit stickers.
Other ways to register
If you are having difficulties registering online you can phone us on
0131 357 2800
Phone lines are open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on Fridays (closed on the Christmas and New Year public holidays). Phone lines may be busy so please register online if you can. You can ask a family member or friend to register and pay on your behalf online if you're unable to do it yourself. This will help you avoid long wait times on the phone.
It is not possible to register and pay at our locality offices, you must register and pay online or over the phone.
We don't accept cheques or cash.
Damaged or missing bins
If you do not have a garden waste bin, or it is damaged, you can order a new bin by emailing
You must give your full name and garden waste service address with the reason for your request.
Moving house
You can transfer your permit to your new address if you move house. You must give us at least six weeks notice and take your brown bin and permit sticker with you when you move. To let us know please email
Other ways to recycle
You can still recycle your garden waste by using a compost bin or by booking an appointment at one of our recycling centres.
Find out what happens to all the recycling and waste collected in Edinburgh.