Seasonal Garden Waste Collection Service Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone living in Inverclyde who wishes to recycle their garden waste in a Council brown bin, must buy a permit. The charge for collecting garden waste from the kerbside in 2024 is £42.00 per bin.
How does the seasonal garden waste service work?
If you would like to use the Council’s seasonal garden waste service you need to apply and pay for a permit online. You will need one permit for each brown bin you use.
• Once your permit arrives in the post, peel the permit from the backing paper and stick it carefully to the back of your brown bin, below the handles (instructions will appear on the reverse of permit).
• Simply use your brown bin to recycle all your garden waste.
• Your permit lasts for all the brown collections in the garden waste collection season, so you will need to reapply each year for a new permit.
How much does a permit cost?
One seasonal garden waste permit costs £42.00. You need one permit per brown bin.
When can I apply for my brown bin permit?
We would encourage you to apply as early as possible each year so you do not miss out on the first collection. You can apply at any point during the garden waste season, but the cost will remain at £42.00 per permit, regardless of how many months of collection are left that year.
How many permits and brown bins can I have?
You can have as many brown bins as you need, but you must apply for and pay £42.00 to receive a permit for each brown bin you use.
How often will my brown bin be emptied?
You will receive a fortnightly seasonal garden waste collection, as advertised. Present your brown bin with your blue recycling bin. Please note, collections commence in March and terminate in November.
I do not want to participate in the seasonal garden waste service. What happens next?
We would encourage everyone to use the seasonal garden waste service. If you do not want to use this service, then you do not need to apply for a permit.
If you have an existing brown bin and would like to recycle your garden waste yourself, you can continue to use your brown bin to store your garden waste then bring it along to one of our recycling centres at Pottery Street, Greenock or Craigmuschat Quarry, Gourock.
What happens to my brown bin if I decide not to participate in the seasonal garden waste collection service?
Your brown bin has been allocated to your address and remains the property of Inverclyde Council, therefore, it should not be removed.
How do I apply and pay for a permit?
You can apply and pay for your permit online using a debit or credit card. The seasonal charge per household for the collection of garden waste is £42.00 per bin.
Is there any other way to apply and pay for the permit, other than online?
We recommend you apply and pay online. Should you have difficulty accessing the internet, or require assistance, please call the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555.
Who can participate in this service?
Many households in Inverclyde already have access to brown bins and a seasonal garden waste service. These households will continue to have the right to access this service. New build households can be added to the brown bin seasonal collection service. If you think you are not currently receiving a garden waste collection and would like to receive a brown bin, please call the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555.
How will my collection crew know I have paid for garden waste to be collected?
Once payment has been received, your permit will be posted out and should be attached to the back of your brown bin below the handles. Each permit will detail the property address for which the permit was purchased. Collection crews will only empty garden waste from brown bins which display a valid garden waste permit. Permits are issued to the property and are not transferable. Copies of permits will not be accepted.
Are there any concessions or discounts?
No concessions or discounts are available for the seasonal garden waste permit. The £42.00 charge will apply regardless of when the permit is purchased.
I paid for my permit online and have not received it
Once your payment has been processed, it can take up to 21 days to print the personalised permit for your bin and post it to your home. If it has been more than 21 days since you ordered your permit and you received the email confirmation but you have still not received the permit through the post, please call the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555.
What happens if I have paid for a permit and my brown bin collection is missed?
Events such as severe weather, access difficulties, breakdowns or other conditions beyond the Council’s control may result in service disruption or missed collections. In such cases, please present your bin on the kerbside by 7am every day to allow collection at the earliest opportunity. If your bin is not collected within 2 days, please return the bin to the regular storage area and re-present for uplift on the next scheduled brown bin collection day, conditions permitting. If the contents of wheeled bins are not uplifted due to material being tightly lodged or frozen, the bins will not be collected until the next scheduled brown bin collection day. The Customer must ensure that the material is freed or dislodged before re-presenting the bin on the next brown bin collection day.
Can I buy a seasonal permit at any point throughout the year?
Yes, permits can be purchased at any time during the garden waste season, however, permits are only valid for the season in which they are purchased.
Can I cancel a permit?
Permits can be cancelled within 14 days of purchase to receive a full refund, thereafter no refunds or part refunds will be given. To exercise the right to cancel within the 14 day period, you must inform the Council of your decision to cancel the contract by using the online cancellation process before the cancellation period has expired. If a permit has been issued before the cancellation notice request is received by the Council, you will be liable for any reasonable costs incurred in returning the permit to the Council. In this instance, a refund will be issued upon receipt of the intact and unused permit. For advice contact the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555.
Can I share a brown bin collection service with my neighbour?
If you want to share a brown bin with your neighbour(s), then you will require a garden waste permit. To share a brown bin, you would only be required to purchase one garden waste permit per bin however, you will have to come to a private agreement with your neighbour(s) regarding who will apply and make payment for the service. The address of the payee will be printed on the garden waste permit which should be attached to the brown bin.
The Council supplies me with garden waste sacks, do I still have to pay for a permit?
Yes, you will be required to purchase a permit and we will uplift 3 bags of garden waste every fortnight.
Where do I put my permit if I use Council supplied garden waste sacks?
Please stick your garden waste permit to one of your static ‘tuff’ bins and continue to present your garden waste sacks on the kerbside for collection.
What will happen to bins that contain garden waste presented without a permit?
We will only empty brown bins which display a valid seasonal garden waste permit. You have the option to take your garden waste to one of the recycling centres at Pottery St, Greenock or Craigmuschat Quarry, Gourock free of charge.
How will I stop residents who have not paid for the service placing garden waste in my bin?
You are responsible for the waste and recycling that is contained within your bins and you will be required to make arrangements to remove any contamination identified. Please store your bin securely between collections.
What can I recycle in my brown bin?
You can recycle garden waste such as grass cuttings, weeds, shrub cuttings, hedge trimmings, flowers, plants, leaves and twigs. Soil cannot be recycled in your brown bin. Brown bins containing soil will not be uplifted. Please note, the lid on your brown bin should be closed.
What happens if I present my brown bin containing the wrong material?
The Council reserves the right not to empty bins that contain incorrect materials (such as soil), are of excessive weight, or present a health and safety risk to staff. It shall be solely for the Council to determine if a bin meets any of the above criteria.
Where recycling bins are contaminated, a sticker will be attached to the bin which will identify that the bin has not been collected due to contamination. You are responsible for the waste and recycling that is contained within your bins and, if required, you will need to make arrangements to remove any contamination identified. If all contamination is removed, the bin will be emptied on the next scheduled brown bin collection day.
On occasions bins may be overly heavy, contents tightly lodged or frozen meaning the lifting mechanism of our refuse collection vehicles cannot empty the bin. Should this be the case, you must ensure that the material is freed or dislodged before re-presenting the bin on the next scheduled brown bin collection day.
Why can soil not be recycled in my brown bin?
Brown bins containing soil may become very heavy and will damage the lifting mechanism on the refuse collection vehicles. Heavy brown bins may present a health and safety risk to staff. Soil mixed with general garden waste such as grass, weeds, flowers and plants may inhibit the composting process.
Can I put garden waste in my black bin?
We would urge residents to purchase a seasonal garden waste permit as putting garden waste in your brown bin allows this material to be recycled which is the most environmentally friendly solution and is far less costly to process than black bin waste which would go to landfill.
You may put garden waste in your black which will be collected as normal every two weeks. Please note that if you fill your black bin with garden waste we will not uplift any excess waste which is not contained in your black bin.
What can I do with my garden waste if I choose not to buy a permit?
• Garden waste can be disposed of free of charge at Pottery Street and Craigmuschat Recycling Centres.
• Grass can be cut and left as this will break down and fertilise the growing grass underneath.
• Leaves can be gathered to make leaf mulch for using on the garden next year.
• For information on home composting please follow the related link
If you pay a private contractor to undertake gardening work, you can request that they remove the garden waste.
Please note, fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. If a person is found guilty of the offence they can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £500 or could potentially be sentenced to imprisonment and risk a fine of up to £40,000.
What can I do if my brown bin is damaged during uplift?
Please call the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555. Damaged bins will be removed and replaced. If your permit is attached to the bin, a replacement bin and permit will be delivered free of charge.
What can I do if my brown bin is lost?
Please call the Garden Waste Helpline on 01475 714555. A replacement bin and permit will be delivered free of charge.