Household waste - garden waste

Brown bin  

NEW - Your brown bin recycling calendar for 2011/12  can be viewed in the downloadable section below. 

Brown bin collections now take place Mondays through Saturdays on a 4-weekly rotational cycle. Each collection route has a specific calendar version associated with it and there are now 24 different collection routes, meaning 24 unique calendar versions.

Along with your recycling calendar you can check the collection day for your street by viewing the A-Z of street names here. This provides you with the facility to find your area, the day of collection and your calendar for your street. Each calendar has a version number on the front of it to refer directly to the street listings.

West Lothian Council provides BROWN Wheeled bins for your garden waste. The brown bin is for the collection of bio-degradable organic waste from the garden.

Please click here for news on your brown bin collection

Please put the following in your brown bin:

  • Garden Waste
  • Leaves
  • Bark
  • Hedge clippings
  • Twigs
  • Small branches (please make sure that all the material is in pieces small enough to fit into your bin)
  • Grass cuttings
  • Cut flowers
  • Potted Plants
  • Weeds

Please do NOT put the following in your brown bin: plastic bags, animal waste/bedding/food waste, general waste, timber, soil, rubble, glass & textiles, polystyrene

Christmas Tree Recycling

To recycle your real Christmas Tree please remove any decorations first and then cut up your Christmas Tree, placing it inside your brown (garden waste) bin. Please do not place your Christmas Tree beside your brown bin as it will not be collected and please ensure your brown bin lid can be fully closed

 

updated 12/09/11

Downloadable documents

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to see the answer.

Can I have a bonfire in my garden to dispose of garden waste?

Yes, you can have a bonfire in your garden, provided it is controlled and does not become a nuisance to neighbours. However, the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allow the Council to serve a notice on a person causing a nuisance to neighbours from bonfires. Bonfires can be very irritating to neighbours and the smoke, smuts and smell can prevent them from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging out washing. It is recommended that you inform your neighbours before any burning activities are carried out. Alternative methods of disposal which are less environmentally damaging (like composting or shredding) are preferable.

What happens to the recyclable waste?

Waste from the brown bin is composted at West Lothian Recycling in Addiewell. The compost is used within the council for grounds maintenance or external forestry.Waste from the blue bin is sent to a local materials recycling facility. It is separated using a combination of automatic and manual methods before each separate material is baled and sent on for reprocessing into newspapers, and a variety of plastic and metal products.We aim to improve our service by expanding the range of materials we collect for recycling.

Online Tools

Online form for requesting a Free Special Collection (new window)

Online form for a PAID Special Collection (new window)

Online form for Refuse Enquiries (for ordering a new bin or making a general enquiry) (new window)

Related Links

On This Site

On Other Sites

Waste Aware Scotland (new window)

Changeworks Composting Webpages (new window)

SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency (new window)

Contact details