New transition arrangements for garden waste collections

As previously announced last week, garden waste collections across East Ayrshire will be changing from the end of March 2021, following an extensive review of waste management which was carried out in response to rising costs and changing legislation.

From the end of this month, residents will have three options to choose from when disposing of garden waste:

• purchase a garden waste permit;
• apply to the Council for a home composter;
• or dispose of garden waste for free at local recycling centres.

New transition arrangements

As part of the transition into the new arrangements, the Council will empty ALL brown bins for free on the first date they are due on the 2021 waste collection calendar. A permit is NOT required for this collection. To view the calendar https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Housing/RubbishAndRecycling/Collection-days/ViewYourRecyclingCalendar.aspx).

This will allow bins that contain garden waste from the winter period to be emptied. From the second cycle onwards, only brown bins with a permit will be collected.

Permit holders will still receive the full ten uplifts of their garden waste bin and an extra collection will now take place in early 2022 to offset the first free collection in 2021. If anyone decides after the free collection date that they no longer wish to keep their brown bin, they can fill out an online form at www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/gardenwastepermit and the Council will remove the bin for them.

Responding to customer feedback

After listening to issues recently raised by East Ayrshire residents, the Council is making further changes to these collection arrangements to make them more accessible and to encourage greater participation, to help improve the environment.

In response to feedback, it will now be possible to transfer waste permits if residents move house within East Ayrshire. The eligibility criteria for the Garden Maintenance Scheme has been revised, to provide support for eligible tenants who are unable to look after their gardens and support will be available to help people who are worried about the affordability of the new scheme.

Full details on all aspects of the scheme - including these recent amendments - are included within the Frequently Asked Questions:  www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/gardenwastepermit.

Phone lines to the Council’s Waste Management service have been extremely busy over the last few days and we thank everyone for their patience. Anyone who has an enquiry is encouraged to read the updated FAQs at www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/gardenwastepermit to see if their question can be answered there. These pages are constantly being updated in response to feedback received, but if you still need to speak to the Council please all 01563 554400; email waste@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.

By introducing these options, the Council hopes to encourage more people to use home composters to deal with garden waste at its original source, and aims to reduce its own carbon footprint with fewer journeys being made by heavy vehicles to the processing facility to deposit garden waste.

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