Changes to General (grey) bin collections
A change to general waste collection is coming.
From 30 March 2025 your grey bin will be emptied every three-weeks. We are one of the last Scottish local authorities to introduce three-weekly collections which aims to encourage more recycling, decrease what is sent to landfill and reduce operating costs.
All recycling services will remain the same.
As a result, we will also be making some changes to our bin routes which means your collection day may change. We will publish the new routes over the coming weeks, so everyone has this information before three-weekly collections are introduced on 30 March.
Please read the list of FAQs below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This change was approved in March 2024 as part of the Council’s 2024/2025 budget. You can read the East Dunbartonshire Council: 26 March 2024 Report: EDC/005/24/AD: Appendix 5 (c)Transformational Change & Budget Reduction - Business Cases on Modern.gov.
We know from waste analysis that 64% of the average general (grey) waste bin is made up of items which could have been recycled instead. In particular, 31% of what is collected within the grey bins is food waste. By reducing the frequency of the collections, we aim to decrease the amount of general, non-recyclable waste and instead, drive up our food waste recycling rates.
From Thursday 6 February a variety of communication methods will be used to ensure residents know about the change happening from Sunday 30 March.
- A tag will be attached to every grey bin in East Dunbartonshire
- Webpage created
- Press release issued to the local and regional press
- Social media posts
- Posters displayed in key community venues including the Community Hubs
- Leaflet with key information in the Council Tax letter that is delivered to every household in the area
With 31% of grey bin contents being food waste, residents can create more space in their grey bins for general non-recyclable items by disposing of their food waste via their caddy. You can also create more space in all bins by squashing/folding items.
Yes, to place a request please contact us on 0300 123 4510 or complete the bin supply request form.
Yes, a number of Councils in Scotland, England and Wales have three-weekly collections for general, non-recyclable waste and have done this for some time. Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire have all implemented a three-weekly waste collection while Stirling has a four-weekly service.
Reducing general waste collections in line with the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy bill have proved to subsequently increase recycling rates whilst reducing general, non-recyclable waste.
Changes to your grey bin collection will be introduced from Sunday 30 March 2025. There will be no changes to the recycling collection (blue, brown, green and caddy) services.
We can provide advice and support to families who have difficulty managing with a single standard grey bin. This will help identify any additional actions that can be taken to increase recycling or to make better use of the bin capacity available.
Consideration will be given for the provision of additional bins to households who are fully utilising all available recycling services at the kerbside, including food, and have:
- Six or more people living full time at the same address
- Two or more babies in nappies living in the household at the same time.
Prior to additional capacity being provided, residents will be provided with a waste diary to complete over a three-week collection cycle. This will allow the service to support and tailor the individual needs of the household. On completion and submission of this information, a Waste Advisor will review and visit.
The provision of additional capacity for general waste will be reviewed after 24 months with this being removed should circumstances change. Should there be evidence of any recycling material, including food and garden waste, in the general grey bin, it may result in additional capacity provision being removed.
We can support households which produce non-clinical waste because of a medical condition. This matter is dealt with sensitively and residents are provided with an application form and are visited by a Waste Advisor to assess requirements.
Currently only one grey bin is permitted. Additional grey bins cannot be purchased or presented. Where additional bins are continually presented these are removed as all bins remain the property of the Council.
No, there will be no changes to the assisted collection service at this time.
Items most commonly fly-tipped are bulky items or trade waste, neither of which are collected as part of our kerbside collection service. We are confident that the current high levels of recycling in East Dunbartonshire, along with further information to encourage more recycling and by ensuring support is in place for larger households and others who need it, residents will continue to dispose of their waste responsibly. Fly-tipping is illegal and could result in legal action.
There is no evidence to suggest that residents will see an increase in vermin as food waste is collected every week in a separate, secure food caddy.
All flats and communal collections will remain unchanged at this time. The service is currently reviewing all flatted properties, and you will be advised of any changes at a later date.
No. It is Council Policy that we cannot take extra bags beside a bin and the lid should be closed. If you cannot keep it until your next scheduled collection, excess waste can be taken to Mavis Valley Recycling Centre by appointment only, or by arranging a special uplift.
To make these arrangements visiting the below pages or by calling Customer Services 0300 123 4510.
There will be changes to collection days for some properties. As soon as this information is available, we will publish this on this page, social media and in our Community Hubs.
To access tailored advice and support please call us on 0300 123 4510 to seek advice from a member of the Waste services team about any waste-related matters.