Highland Council will NOT pass on higher brown bin costs to taxpayers this time
The fee to have cut grass and hedge trimmings taken from brown bins at homes across the area will not change for 2025/26.
Highland Council has decided to freeze the price of its garden waste permits at £48.95 each - despite its own costs going up.
It says this is because it knows residents are feeling the pinch.
Emptying brown bins is not covered by council tax payments, like with other bins residents have.
The annual fee was introduced almost a decade ago with the opt-in service costing £30 at that time, starting in 2017.
The council’s communities and place committee chairman Graham MacKenzie said: “Although our service costs have gone up, the council has agreed to freeze the price of the garden waste permit at £48.95 this year, in light of ongoing financial pressures faced by many households. By maintaining the price, we can avoid passing on any increases to our customers this year.
“We hope this decision encourages our current customers to keep up their fantastic recycling efforts and inspires others to sign up and join the service.
“Recycling garden waste like grass cuttings, leaves, branches, hedge trimmings and flowers plays a key role in our overall recycling efforts here in Highland.
“People often think of recycling as just paper, cardboard, cans, and plastics - but garden waste is just as important and makes a real difference to our recycling rates. Garden waste could be composted at home or taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres or recycled through the garden waste collection service rather than being thrown away in non-recyclable waste bins. It is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint to create a healthier, more sustainable Highland and to help combat climate change.”
Permits are now available to purchase online and are valid from September 1 to August 31, 2026, with a winter break in December, January and February.