Renfrewshire Council

Garden waste

Buy a permit and have the council collect your garden waste, other ways to recycle your garden waste, what can and cannot go in your brown bin.

Recycle your garden waste instead of putting it in your general waste bin. This allows us to take it to a composting plant, where it can become a valuable resource for commercial and residential fertiliser.


How to recycle your garden waste

If you'd like us to collect your garden waste from your home, you need to pay for a garden waste permit.

Apply for a garden waste permit

A permit costs £40 per brown bin. You can buy an additional brown bin if you need more than one. If you buy an additional brown bin, then you must buy an additional permit for it.

If you already have a garden waste permit, it will be valid until 31 March 2024.

If you'd like us to collect your garden waste from your home from 1 April 2024, you need to pay for a new permit.

Apply for a garden waste permit.

Permits will take up to 15 working days to arrive.

We started sending out the first permits from 6 March. If you applied for your permit before 11 March, then you'll receive it by 1 April. You can still apply for a permit after this date, but it might not arrive by 1 April.

Once you have your permit

Attach your permit to the back of your brown bin, under the handles. Remember to remove your old permit, if you have one.

We'll then start collecting your garden waste on your next brown bin collection day.

Your permit will be valid from 1 April 2024 to 30 April 2025.

Other options

Alternatively, you could:


More information about garden waste permits

If you share a brown bin

If you share a brown bin with a neighbour, you can share the cost of a permit. You'll need to arrange this between yourselves, with just one of you applying for the permit.

If you receive council tax reduction

If you receive full (100%) or severe mental impairment (SMI) council tax reduction, you can get one free permit. You'll need to apply for the permit and select the council tax reduction option.

If you're on our garden assistance scheme

If you're on our garden assistance scheme, you do not need to apply for a permit. There is no change to our grass and hedge cutting service for people on this scheme, and we'll continue to remove your garden waste as usual.

Get help with your permit application

If you need help with your application, phone our customer service centre on 0300 300 0380 or email us at garden.waste@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

If you're moving house

If you're moving house within Renfrewshire, you'll need to request a free replacement permit.

Request a replacement garden waste permit.

Terms and conditions

Check the terms and conditions for our garden waste collection service for more information.


What goes in your brown bin

Once you have a garden waste permit, these items can go in your brown bin:

  • grass cuttings
  • leaves and twigs
  • branches and twigs (small enough to fit in the bin with the lid closed)
  • hedge clippings
  • plants.

Do not put these items in your brown bin:

  • rubble and soil
  • pet waste and bedding
  • plant pots
  • wood and fencing
  • timber or logs
  • garden furniture
  • stones, gravel, or concrete (including DIY waste, such as plasterboard).

Find out more about what goes in your bins and rubbish sacks.