Garden waste permits

An extra sign-up window up for East Lothian Council’s 2025/2026 garden waste collection service opened on 2 February and will run for two weeks until 16 February.

Key points to note

permit applications will be available using a myeastlothian account on the council’s website until the window closes at 4pm on Monday 16 February
the permit only covers collections until 28 August 2026 and will cost £35.00
you will still have to sign up again for the 2026/2027 service when the standard window opens in May 2026 for all residents, including paying for a new permit
collections are fortnightly
your permit sticker will show your collection day and week and should be attached to your bin
If you do not have a brown bin at your property, register for a permit first then contact wasteservices@eastlothian.gov.uk to order a bin

Concessions

No concessions are available. All residents have to pay the full charge.

Permit stickers

You will get a permit sticker to go on your bin. The sticker will show the address and permit number for the registered property and the expiry date of the permit. Collection crews will only empty the brown bins with a valid sticker clearly displayed and they will check the sticker details match the property address.

If residents don't purchase a permit and continue to place garden waste in their brown bin, the bin will not be emptied. Residents can dispose of garden waste free of charge at our recycling centres.

Moving house

Permits are for the property address, so if you move house the permit will stay at your old address. Permits cannot be transferred or refunded. If you move house, you can apply for a collection at your new address in the next registration period.

Flats with shared areas

It is the residents’ responsibility to organise ordering and payment for the service. This may be done by splitting the cost but only one person should order the permit and pay the full amount.

Refunds for missed collections

Refunds will not be given for missed collections. If a collection is missed and the bin was presented on time and correctly: report a missed collection online and the collection will be completed as soon as possible. If the bin is not presented correctly you will be required to wait until the next scheduled collection before it is emptied.

Replacement permits

If your bin is lost you can request a replacement bin and replacement permit by email: wasteservices@eastlothian.gov.uk or you can call 01875 824305. Both will be provided free of charge.

If you don’t want to use this permit service

We will not collect your brown bin. It should stay at the property for potential use in the future.

Items you can recycle in your brown bin:

Garden waste including grass cuttings, leaves, bark, flowers/plants, hedge trimmings, weeds, twigs/small branches are all accepted materials in brown bins.

Items you can't recycle in your brown bin:

Pet waste, soil, turf, stones, plant pots, garden furniture, plastic bags, or any general waste.

Bins 'contaminated' with other waste will not be uplifted by collection crews as the presence of other waste can negatively impact the quality of the compost produced at the re-processing site.

Collections

garden waste will be collected fortnightly and you will be sent a pack containing your permit sticker and collection calendar before the service start date
if you have an assisted collection this will automatically continue
report a missed collection online or call 01875 824305

Fly tipping risk

Councils who have already introduced this charge have found no evidence to suggest that fly tipping of garden waste has increased as a result. The disposal of garden waste is the householder's responsibility and residents can dispose of garden waste free of charge at our recycling centres

Garden Aid

If you are a Garden Aid customer, work carried out by the Garden Aid team should be removed by them.

Leaves from trees outside your property

The owner of the property is responsible for clearing leaves that have fallen into their own garden, even if they originated from a tree on another property.

The garden waste is composted

Garden waste collected in East Lothian is composted by Forth Resource Management. For more information visit their website frmrecycling.co.uk.

The council does not receive any income from garden waste we pay to compost the material we collect.