Highland Council freezes price of garden waste permits

The price of garden waste permits will not increase later this year.

For the 2023/24 permit season, Highland Council is keeping the price at £47.75 per permit for the opt-in brown bin service.

Everyone who currently has a permit will be sent a renewal reminder over the next few weeks.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about changes to Highland bins

The council's communities and place committee chairman Graham Mackenzie said: “This year the council has agreed to freeze the price of the garden waste permit at £47.75. Although some costs have increased for the council, members have agreed to not pass this increase on to residents.

"We hope this decision will encourage current customers to maintain their great contribution to recycling garden waste and encourage others to register with the service.”

There are up to 20 garden waste collections each season with a break over December, January and February.

Each household can purchase up to three garden waste permits.

Councillor Mackenzie added: “Recycling garden waste such as grass, leaves, branches, hedge clippings and flowers is an important part of our recycling in Highland with 12,200 tonnes of this material collected from the kerbside and Household Waste Recycling Centres last year.

"People often think recycling is only about their blue bin, but garden waste is as important and contributes to our overall recycling figures.

"Garden waste could be composted at home, taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres or recycled through the garden waste collection service rather than being thrown away in general waste bins and is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint to create a healthier, more sustainable environment, helping to combat climate change.”

Garden waste permits can be purchased online.

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