Controversial brown bin fees go up by £5 again as Highland Council looks to bridge budget gap
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THE fee for having garden waste taken away by Highland Council has increased by another £5.
Permits for 2019/20 are now available for £40.
The controversial brown bin fee was £30 when it was introduced two years ago. It was increased to £35 last year.
New permits will be needed for July 1 and the council encourages people to order them before June 2 to ensure delivery in time for the first collections.
Current permits expire on June 30.
Councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of the council's environment, development and infrastructure committee, said: “The cost of a garden waste permit for the 2019/20 collection service will be £40 per bin for the year.
"The charge for the collection of garden waste will help bridge the council’s £60 million budget gap that it faces over the next three years.
"The income will help fund the cost of the service, protect jobs and reduce the need for cuts while continuing to provide a service that Highland households value.”
He continued: “Last year 32,000 garden waste permits were purchased in Highland and I would like to take this opportunity to thank householders for their continued commitment to recycling and reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill from the region.”
Permits can be bought at www.highland.gov.uk/gardenwaste and by calling the council’s Service Centre on 01349 886603 or in person at council service points.
The service is optional and householders can dispose of garden waste at council recycling centres for free.
Householders who no longer wish to receive garden waste collections can also return unwanted brown bins to recycling centres.
