On October 1, 2023, Glasgow introduced a £50 annual charge for the collection of domestic garden waste, following unanimous support at the budget meeting.
During Thursday’s council meeting, Labour councillor Bailie Patricia Ferguson questioned the lack of flexibility in the scheme. She highlighted concerns from constituents needing more than one brown bin for hedge trimmings, leading to charges of £200 for four bins. Bailie Ferguson expressed that this seemed excessive and inconsistent with the scheme’s intended purpose.
Ferguson also mentioned elderly residents on pension credit who are worried about affording the bin charges. She suggested considering flexibility for such cases in the scheme’s second year.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly responded, emphasizing his openness to discussing policies with council members. He noted that the scheme was unanimously approved without alternatives in the most recent budget and had raised £1.962 million for the council. He explained that removing or altering the scheme would necessitate finding equivalent savings elsewhere.
The brown bin permit system, part of the 2023/24 budget, began on October 1, 2023, and the first year of the permit is valid until October 30, 2024. Councillor Kelly reiterated that the £50 annual charge applies per brown bin, with no instalment payment option due to administrative challenges. Residents who choose not to use a permit can continue using the brown bin for food waste only, which will still be collected.
