A new commercial survey claims that West Lothian residents pay the second highest charges for garden waste uplift in Scotland.
This year households in the county have to pay £55.75 for two brown bin garden rubbish collections.
But the claim doesn’t reveal the full picture, the council said this week, as it again made clear the funding crisis facing local authorities.
Research carried out on behalf of Divert, a waste collection service, pointed out that only Stirling and West Dunbartonshire councils charge more for garden waste uplift at £60 a year.
A West Lothian spokesperson said: “This analysis isn’t really giving the full picture. The charge is correct but it’s not made clear that this is for two brown bins, not just the one.”
In Stirling, the permit runs for 12 months from April to April, and food waste is not accepted. Some households are exempt from paying, including those receiving Council Tax Reduction, certain Council Tax discounts or exemptions linked to severe mental impairment, or the council’s Garden Maintenance Service.
In West Dunbartonshire, the collection period is shorter, only running from March to November. The service is fortnightly, and food waste is accepted, which makes it different from many other paid garden waste schemes. If households require more than one bin, additional bins cost £60 per bin.
In West Lothian, the spokesperson pointed out: “The figure of £55.75 for West Lothian Garden Waste Permits is correct, however, this allows a household up to two brown bins. If a customer has two brown bins they only pay one charge. Most other councils charge per bin/permit. It is important to point that out.”
“For example, in Angus, it is £110 for two bins compared to £55.75 for two bins in West Lothian, yet this table has Angus below West Lothian- with a charge of £55.”
The study said that one out of four councils offer a discounted garden waste service. On average waste collection costs are the sixth most expensive in the UK.
The most expensive part of the UK is the South East, with an average collection rate of £72.14.
There was a furious response in West Lothian when the council proposed the introduction of brown bin changes in 2024.
Councillors from across the chamber objected as did thousands of residents. As the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed at the time it was only unions representing waste services staff welcomed it as the first investment in operations in more than 20 years.
The council spokesperson highlighted that garden waste uplift is not yet a statutory service. West Lothian faces huge cutbacks in funding.
They added: “ The collection of garden waste is not a statutory service, and with restricted budgets and increasing costs, Councils can no longer afford to operate this type of collection as a free service, which is why most Scottish councils have a garden waste collection fee.
“To retain a garden waste collection service, it was therefore necessary to introduce a charge to contribute towards the cost of its provision. The garden waste permits generate income and are appropriately priced to ensure that 100% of that income covers the cost of providing the garden waste service.
“There is no obligation to make use of the chargeable service and residents can continue to dispose of garden waste free of charge at the Community Recycling Centres.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
