New rules for commercial waste in Paisley town centre

What the new rules are

The rules are changing for how you can store your commercial waste in Paisley town centre.

Under the new rules:

• commercial waste containers cannot be permanently stored on pavements or roads
• waste contractors need to have a permit for placing containers on roads
• waste must only be on pavements or roads while awaiting collection
• collection windows will be 7am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm
• waste must not be left out overnight
• containers must be labelled with business name and collection times
• waste containers must be placed for collection as close to your premises as possible and must not obstruct pedestrians, wheelchairs, prams, or road users
• if waste is not collected within the window, it must be removed and placed back in your premises, and you’ll need to contact your waste contractor about a missed collection
• you must present your waste during your collection window even if your business is not open during that time.

Who the rules apply to

This applies to all organisations in Paisley town centre that produce commercial waste.
Commercial waste is general waste and recycling that does not come from private homes. It comes from organisations such as:

• businesses
• charities
• community organisations
• public sector bodies.

It’s your responsibility to find a waste contractor that will collect your waste within the collection window.

You can hire a private company or the council to collect your waste.
The rules will not affect you if your commercial waste is collected from within your building or on private land.

Find out more about commercial waste with Renfrewshire Council.

Map of the area with the new rules

View a map of the area of Paisley town centre where there are new rules for commercial waste.

When the rules will start

The new rules:

• start on 1 September 2026
• will have a 1-month ‘soft launch’, during which we’ll help organisations adjust to the changes
• will be enforced from 1 October 2026, including issuing penalties for failing to comply.

Over the summer, we’ll engage with Paisley First and affected organisations in Paisley town centre to discuss what the new rules mean and to support you through the changes.

What you need to do to prepare

Speak to your waste contractor

You need to speak to your waste contractor – either a private company or the council – to make sure they can still collect your waste effectively. This includes any food waste, which is subject to the same rules as other types of commercial waste.

Depending on your location, storage space, and how much waste your organisation produces, your waste contractor might suggest adaptations such as smaller bins, more frequent collections, or collections from inside your business.

You should speak to your waste contractor before the new rules start so you have time to prepare.

Properly store any food waste

Food waste will be subject to the same rules as any other type of waste. If you need to store food waste in your property, you may need to use pest-proof containers to comply with food hygiene regulations. You should store food waste away from food-handling areas and make sure the waste is collected regularly.

Check if your costs will change

We understand that this may change your waste collection costs. This is something you’ll need to plan for. Speak to your waste contractor if you have any concerns.

Find out how to analyse the waste you produce and potentially lower your costs (Zero Waste Scotland website).

What will happen if you do not comply with the rules

We’ll work with you as much as possible to help you comply with the new rules.

We’ll start enforcing the rules on 1 October 2026.

From this date, you could get a fine of up to £500 and be reported to the procurator fiscal if you store your bins and sacks on the street or pavement during times other than your collection window.

Why we’re making these changes

Improving Paisley town centre

We support private waste contractors operating in Paisley. However, there are now over 1,000 commercial bins left out in the town centre. These bins do not look nice, and they can contribute to:

• litter and spillages
• fly-tipping
• vermin and pest issues
• blocked pavements and accessibility problems
• safety risks for pedestrians and road users.

The new rules aim to:

• improve the appearance of the town centre
• reduce the number of commercial bins on public streets
• create a cleaner and more welcoming environment
• improve accessibility and public safety
• encourage waste reduction and increased recycling.

Overall, the changes will help us reduce stray litter and make our streets cleaner and safer. They’re one of the ways we’re working with the community to improve the look of Paisley town centre, which will benefit residents, businesses, and visitors by making our public spaces more welcoming for people to spend time in the town.

Learning from other councils

Similar changes have been made in other places, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee where the changes have provided long term benefits. We’ve informed our approach by learning from what other councils have done and by engaging with the local community before making the changes.