Service request

You can donate laptops, tablets and phones that are less than 10 years old and in good condition by bringing them to one of these Renfrewshire libraries:

• Paisley Central Library
• Johnstone Library
• Renfrew Library
• Ferguslie Park Library.

View library addresses and opening hours

Library staff will give all donated devices to Pachedu, our partner organisation for this recycling programme. Then, the staff at Pachedu will:

• securely wipe (factory reset) all devices
• refurbish them
• give them to people in Renfrewshire who need them.

Donating unwanted laptops, tablets and phones helps reduce waste and helps people in need.

Make sure any laptops, tablets or phones you want to donate are less than 10 years old and in good condition.

If your devices are more than 10 years old, look for another way to donate or sell your device, or you can recycle them at one of our household waste recycling centres. 

We cannot accept a device that has a swollen battery. If your device has a swollen battery or is showing signs of this, you can recycle them at one of our household waste recycling centres.

Find out how to recycle other types of small electric appliances – such as kitchen appliances, children’s toys, or power cords and plugs – at our libraries’ WEEE Banks instead.

Personal data removal

Before donating, please ensure all personal data has been erased from your device. This include files, photos, saved passwords, and any linked accounts. You can do this using the relevant link below:

• Reset your Windows device (Microsoft.com)
• Reset your Apple device - iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch (Apple.com)
• Reset your Apple Mac (Apple.com)
• Reset your Android device (Android.com)

The device will also be securely wiped in a professional manner by Pachedu.

Please do not donate your device until you have reset it. If you donate it and it has a lock or password on it, Pachedu will not be able to securely wipe it and will not be able to refurbish it.

First, fill in this online form:

Donate a laptop, tablet or phone

Then, bring your device to one of these Renfrewshire libraries and speak to the library staff at the counter:

• Paisley Central Library
• Johnstone Library
• Renfrew Library
• Ferguslie Park Library.

If you have lots of devices to donate, contact Pachedu directly – they’ll be able to arrange a collection with you:

• phone 07554 942791
• email esther.misajel@pachedu.org.

We cannot return donated devices to you once you’ve left them with our library staff for recycling.

The staff at Pachedu will securely wipe (factory reset) all devices, refurbish them, and give them to people in Renfrewshire who need them.

If you donated a device that has a lock or password on it, Pachedu will not be able to securely wipe it and will not be able to refurbish it. See the information above on how to reset your device.

For more information, contact Pachedu by:

• phone 07554 942791
• email esther.misajel@pachedu.org.

Library staff in the 4 participating libraries will also be able to help.

Enforcement

Police Scotland will enforce the rules in any approved zones. Breaking the rules could lead to a fine or prosecution.

Renfrewshire Council's current position

Renfrewshire Council has agreed to use firework control zone powers.

To date, no requests received have met the criteria.  

A firework control zone (FCZ) is a defined geographical area in which it is illegal to use fireworks on private domestic property.  

The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 introduced a discretionary power for councils to designate firework control zones, where there is evidence that this can resolve a problem.

Zones are designed to reduce harm caused by fireworks, such as:

• noise and disruption
• distress to animals
• impact on vulnerable people
• anti-social behaviour
• environmental damage.

Residents and community groups can apply to have a zone in their area.

Zones must be evidence-based, limited solely to areas, dates and times where it can make a difference, and subject to an extensive consultation process outlined in the Guidance on Firework control zones for Local Authorities (Scottish Government).

Renfrewshire Council is responsible for establishing zones after an application has been accepted.

Breaches of an established zone are enforced by Police Scotland.

A firework control zone can:

• ban fireworks in gardens and private spaces
• let communities request zones
• apply rules to specific areas and times
• help tackle social problems
• make illegal use a criminal offence.

A firework control zone cannot:

• ban organised public displays, such as weddings or council events
• stop shops from selling fireworks
• cover large areas, like whole towns
• stop bonfires or noise from travelling
• be used as a quick fix or first option.

Who can apply

You can apply if you're part of a:

• community group (with at least 25 signatures)
• welfare or support organisation
• Community Council
• Local Partnership Area.

When to apply

Applications are open from 17 November 2025 to 30 January 2026.

What to include

Your request should explain:

• what the problem is (things such as noise, safety, animal distress)
• where the zone should be
• when it should start and end.

Apply for a firework control zone

You can email us on ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk to request a paper version.

Your application will be reviewed within 4 weeks. If it can proceed to the next stage, we'll ask you for supporting evidence.

The evidence provided must be provable. You can read details about what is considered as relevant evidence in the Guidance on Firework control zones for Local Authorities (Scottish Government).

The stages of the process are:

1. Review panel - in early March, a team from the council and partner organisations will look at all evidenced requests. If your request is rejected, you'll get feedback - and you won't be able to reapply for the same area for 12 months.
2. Consultation - if your request is accepted, we'll run a public consultation from late April to late July. We'll ask people who live or work in the area, nearby communities, and relevant organisations for their views.
3. Decision - we'll publish the final decision by 15 August. If approved, the zone will come into force by 15 October.

List of memorial masons registered to work in our cemeteries

If you need to repair or install a new memorial in one of our cemeteries or churchyards you can only use a memorial mason from this list:

• B Main Sculptors, 282 Main Street, Cambuslang, G72 7EG. Phone 0141 641 0088.
• Buchanan Memorials, 26 Cemetery Road, Glasgow, G52 1ST. Phone 0800 072 8033.
• James Dykes Funeral Services, 80 Mount Street, Cumberland Court, Nottingham, NG1 6HH. Phone 01560 318 046.
• Flawless Memorials, 12 Stoneside Square, Glasgow, G43 1HZ. Phone 07956 800 587.
• Forever Memorials, 50 Mollinsburn Street, Glasgow, G21 4SE Phone 0141 816 7400.
• Garner Memorials, 130 Hawkhead Road, Paisley, PA2 7BE. Phone 0141 848 5938.
• Charles Lipton Ltd, 5 Crosshill Road, Glasgow, G64 ZPZ. Phone 0141 762 3733.
• P Lipton & Sons Ltd, 7 Gourock Street, Glasgow, G5 9RY. Phone 0141 429 7341.
• MacDougall Memorials Ltd, 29 Queen Drive, Kilmarnock, KA1-3XF. Phone 01563 523 142.
• MacIntyre Memorials, 38 Watt Road, Glasgow, G52 4RY. Phone 0141 882 3772.
• Mackays Memorial Headstones, Unit 2 Tomich Cafe, Invergordon, IV18-0LF. Phone 01862 832 022.
• McGreevy Memorials, 50 Langcroft Road, Glasgow, G51 4JB. Phone 07853 337 998.
• McPherson Memorials, 5 High Street, Johnstone, PA5 8JZ. Phone 01505 321 166.
• Quinn Memorials, 42 Main Street, Kilbirnie, KA25 7BY. Phone 01505 685 455.
• George Rooney Memorials, St Convals Cemetery, Glasgow Road, Barrhead, G78-1TH. Phone 0141 880 5602.
• Robertson Memorials, 499 Windmillhill Street, ML1 2UF. Phone 01698 265 197.
• Douglas Swan & Sons, 18A St Cuthbert Street, Kirkcudbright, DG6-4HZ. Phone 01557 330 941.
• M Wallace Memorials, 27 Kevin Road North, Cumbernauld, G67 2BD. Phone 07827 665 296.
• Whiteside Memorials, Unit 6 Drumfrochar Place, Greenock, PA15 4BJ. Phone 0141 721 325.

To make any repairs or install any new headstones or memorials in our cemeteries and churchyards you must be registered on our Scheme for Memorial Masons.

Once on the scheme a memorial mason needs to apply for approval for each repair or installation they want to do.

You can join the scheme if you are a memorial mason and you meet the eligibility requirements.

A memorial mason must be registered on the scheme to work within any cemetery or churchyard under the management of the council.

Once registered, Scheme Members must ensure that any work carried out by them or on their behalf by any person working for them directly or as a sub-contractor or in any other capacity is in full compliance with the scheme rules and regulations.

Read the full Scheme terms and conditions.

You’ll need to:

• be registered with RQMF (Register of Qualified Memorial Fixers)
• or be able to provide a current certificate of compliance, which certifies that all work carried out in relation to the installation of a memorial, complies with British Standard 8415 supported by the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) Code of Working Practice and British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) The Blue Book.

You’ll need to provide a sample copy of the certificate of compliance you’ll use.

All certificates or register entries must be within the date of the Scheme Membership tenure, which runs for 12 months.

To apply you need to complete and sign the application form and declaration.

When you do this you agree to comply with the following law and standards (including as subsequently amended or reenacted):

• Renfrewshire Council’s Cemetery Policy and Management Rules
• NAMM Code of Working Practice (latest relevant edition)
• BRAMM The Blue Book
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
• British Standard 8415:2005
• other relevant British Standards
• all other relevant statutory requirements
• the terms of this Registration Scheme for Memorial Masons.

If we accept you onto the scheme we’ll give you a permit to display in your vehicle when you’re working in our cemeteries.

You’ll need to renew your place on the scheme every 12 months, if you want to stay on the scheme.
 

You’ll need to apply for approval each time that you want to repair an existing memorial or to install a new one.

Once you’re accepted on the scheme we’ll send you:

• memorial permission forms
• a checklist to get each stage of work approved.

There is no cost to join the scheme.

We need to know if a business property has a new tenant. This is so we can charge the new tenant, not the old tenant, for the property’s future business rates.

Either the new tenant or the property’s owner needs to tell us about the change in tenancy.

You should decide between you which one of you will tell us about the change in ownership. There’s no need for both of you to tell us.

Tell us about a change of tenancy for business rates

We need to know if a business property has been sold to a new owner. This is so we can charge the new owner, not the old owner, for the property’s future business rates.

Either the property’s buyer or seller needs to tell us about the change in ownership.

You should decide between you which one of you will tell us about the change in ownership. There’s no need for both of you to tell us.

Tell us about a change of ownership for business rates

Antisocial behaviour is acting or behaving in a way that causes alarm or distress to a person in another household.

It can include:

• noise
• shouting, swearing or fighting
• intimidation, threats or harassment
• abusive behaviour, verbal abuse or name calling
• dumping rubbish
• drug use or drug dealing
• animal problems
• damage to property, vandalism or graffiti.

If the issue is with a neighbour, speaking with them may help resolve the issue without us being involved. Make sure you feel comfortable approaching them and are not putting yourself or them at risk.

You can get advice from Citizens Advice Scotland about resolving neighbour disputes, including noise, antisocial behaviour, boundary and garden disputes or damage and repairs. 

You can also look at getting independent legal advice (Citizens Advice Scotland website).

We also have a free mediation service that can help you resolve difficulties with your neighbours.

Remember to always keep yourself safe. 

Antisocial behaviour in a public place

Contact our community support wardens on 0300 300 0380 (option 1) or contact Police Scotland online or phone 101 to report antisocial behaviour in a public place including:

• an ongoing disturbance
• drug misuse or suspected drug dealing
• other criminal activity.

The Council have no powers to deal with the smell of drugs on a premises.

Call 999 if it's an emergency.

Noise

If you:

• have an issue with noise from a domestic premises, including excessive TV noise, dog barking or persistent DIY.
• are disturbed by burglar alarms or industrial and commercial noise.

Find out what you can do about noise nuisance.

Use of domestic CCTV systems

We don't have any legal enforcement powers in relation to the use of CCTV in a domestic setting. 

You can find out more about the use of domestic CCTV systems (Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website).

If you're a private homeowner

You can contact our community support wardens on 0300 300 0380 (option 1) or email wardens.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk 

If you're a council tenant

Report antisocial behaviour in a domestic property to your local housing officer.

Call 0300 300 0222 and choose the option for your local housing team or email:

• johnstone.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• paisley.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• renfrew.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Your local housing officer will try to improve the situation, which may include or speaking with you neighbours. 

You may also be given access to an antisocial behaviour app, to help you log what is happening and when it takes place.

If this doesn't resolve the issue, the local housing officer will escalate it to our Antisocial Behaviour Investigation Team.

Outside of office hours, contact our community support wardens on 0300 300 0380 and select option 1 or email wardens.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk. 

If you're a housing association tenant

If you are a housing association tenant, contact your housing association in the first instance.

If you're a private tenant

You should speak to your landlord.

If your landlord can't help, you can contact our community support wardens on 0300 300 0380 and select option 1 or email wardens.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk 

We'll investigate your complaint and if we consider it antisocial behaviour, we will work with your neighbour to change their behaviour. 

If other methods, like speaking to the people involved or mediation have not worked or if the person does not change their behaviour, we may take legal action, such as applying for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO).

You can remain anonymous when reporting antisocial behaviour, but this limits our options to resolve the issue.

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland brings local people together to address crime and other community safety issues.

Neighbourhood Watch groups often liaise with the local police, the local authority and other agencies. 

Find out more about setting up a Neighbourhood Watch, or check if there's already one where you live, on the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland website.

If you don't have a Neighbourhood Watch, you can sign up for email alerts about issues affecting your area. You'll get advice on what to do and a point of contact for reporting the issue.

If you have a problem with domestic noise, you can make a complaint to our Noise Enforcement Team.

If it's noise from children

Everyday noise from play or family life involving children is not antisocial behaviour and is classed as normal living noise.

In certain circumstances involving excessive noise, we may investigate the complaint.

If you have concerns about the welfare of a child or young person you can get more information and advice on our child protection page.

If it's dogs barking

What you can do about dog barking, taking legal action, what happens at a court hearing.

If it's a burglar alarm

Complaints are regularly received about noise from burglar alarms. Let the council and police know who holds a key for your alarm system. 

This can be done by filling out a burglar alarm notification form and sending completed copies to environmental services and Police Scotland. 

This will allow us to contact the key holder and have the alarm checked.

If it's industrial or commercial noise

Noise from industrial or commercial premises, such as construction sites, pubs and clubs or mobile food outlets, is a .

To report noise from an industrial or commercial premises, contact our Environmental Improvements Team.

You can call the Noise Enforcement Team on 077 6898 8186 from:

• 8.45am to 4.45pm, Mondays to Thursdays
• 8.45am to 3.55pm on Fridays.

Outside these hours you can call Police Scotland on 101 about noise complaints.

An officer will investigate your complaint and, where noise is caused by antisocial behaviour and is found to exceed permitted levels, the perpetrator may be issued with a warning notice under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004.

Failure to comply with a warning notice may result in a £100 fixed penalty notice being issued.

It's not always clear if a vehicle has been abandoned.

Signs it has been abandoned can include:

• flat tyres or missing wheels
• litter or leaves under the vehicle, mould or vegetation growing inside the vehicle - this may mean that it has not moved for some time
• smashed windscreen or windows
• missing number plates
• it contains items of waste such as tyres, old newspapers, or general rubbish
• vehicle parts, like the bumper, seats or radio, have been removed or damaged
• graffiti on the vehicle
• wires hanging from the dashboard because the vehicle has been 'hot-wired' - it has been driven without keys by connecting ignition wires together.

If you find an abandoned vehicle, do not enter or touch the vehicle. 

It could contain hazardous waste, be a fire risk, or have been used in a crime.

If it has been involved in a crime, the police will need to investigate it. 

Tell the police

If the vehicle is a danger to the public or causing an obstruction on a road, footpath, or cycle route, phone 101 to report it to the police.

Check if it's taxed

If it's not taxed, or it's not exempt from tax, report the untaxed vehicle to the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on GOV.UK.

Only the DVLA can remove untaxed vehicles. The council cannot remove them unless they are a risk to public health.

Some vehicles are exempt from tax if they are registered as off the road - they have a 'Statutory Off-Road Notification' (SORN). For example, they are not in use, are not in a public place or are a historical vehicle.

You can check if a vehicle is taxed on the GOV.UK website. 

You'll need to tell them the vehicle registration number, make, model and colour of the vehicle and the street name, town and postcode where you saw it.

Check with neighbours

Check with your neighbours or local businesses to see if anyone knows who the vehicle belongs to. 

If you still think it's abandoned

If you still think it's abandoned, report it to us. 

Tell us as much information as you can, like:

• what kind of vehicle it is, such as a bike, car, motorbike, van or something else
• the vehicle brand, manufacturer, model or colour
• what condition it's in, like if it's damaged, vandalised or burnt out
• the registration plate number
• how long it has been there
• a nearby address or the nearest street or landmark, and where the vehicle is in this place
• if it's on private land, council-owned land, or you're not sure
  any other information.

You can also upload photos of the vehicle or location if you have them.

If you tell us your name, email address or phone number, we may contact you if we need more information or we can't find anything.

Report an abandoned vehicle

We will try to find the owner, but if we do not, we'll remove the vehicle. 

There may a cost to remove abandoned vehicles from privately owned land or property, depending on how easy or difficult it is to remove it. 

If the vehicle is in a bad condition, it may be destroyed after 24 hours.

Otherwise, we will keep it for a maximum of 7 days. After 7 days, we'll either send it to be scrapped or sell it at auction.

If we trace the owner, they'll have to pay a charge for the removal and storage of the vehicle.

If you've found a discarded needle or syringe in an open area, or anywhere that's a danger to the public, report it to us straightaway.

Do not touch the syringe, or let children or pets near it.

We'll need to know exactly where it is so that we can find it quickly.

It will help if you can tell us the address where you found it. If you don't know the exact address, you can use the map on the online form to pinpoint its location. 

If you can't find it on the map, tell us the nearest street or landmark, and describe where it is in that place - for example, if it's beside a bin or street lamp.

Give us any other details, like how many needles or syringes you found or how dangerous they are. 

You can also upload photos of the needles or syringes or the location if you have them.

Report a discarded needle or syringe

Phone 0300 300 0300 to report a discarded needle or syringe.
 

If you provide us with an email address, we'll send you a confirmation email with a case reference number.

When we receive your report, we will investigate the issue.

We aim to remove discarded needles and syringes within 24 hours.

We may contact you if we can't find anything.

You should not put used needles or syringes in your bins or take them to our household waste recycling centres.

Instead, return used hypodermic needles to your doctor's surgery or health centre for safe disposal.

If you have a home to sell, you may be able to sell it to Renfrewshire Council.

Our buy-back scheme considers the purchase of former council homes from current owners and those placed on the open market, particularly where we are looking to increase our ownership in mixed tenure blocks.

This helps us to increase the amount of affordable housing in the area and meet identified housing needs.

There are many benefits to selling your home to the council, including:

• no estate agent fees
• no chain to consider
• no viewings to arrange.

Your property may can be eligible for the scheme if it meets the following conditions:

• it will increase the supply of council housing in the area
• it is a size or type that meets demands in an area
• it will help to address needs within existing housing stock
• it is close to existing council housing
• it represents good value for money to the council's Housing Revenue Account.

Any works required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the council's letting standard would be carried out, and the property would be let in accordance with the Council's Common Housing Allocation Policy.

We will only consider buying a property if it meets the conditions and is considered good value for money. This will take account of the purchase price and cost of any repairs or improvements required.

Email us at regeneration.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you're interested in the council's buy-back scheme.