Quick answer: A Glasgow garden waste permit costs £50 a year per brown bin. You buy or renew it online through Glasgow City Council with a MyGov account, and the council posts you a sticker to put on the back of the bin under the handle. The permit runs October to September. Without it, your brown bin won’t be emptied if it has garden waste in it, though food waste collections carry on for free.
If you’ve got a garden in Glasgow, the brown bin is the one that costs you money. The council stopped collecting garden waste for free a few years back and brought in an annual permit instead. Here’s exactly what you pay, how to sign up, and what the council will and won’t take.
How much does the Glasgow garden waste permit cost in 2026?
The charge is £50 per brown bin, per year. That’s a flat fee. There’s no pro-rata rate, so if you sign up halfway through the year you still pay the full £50 and just get fewer collections before it expires.
The permit year runs from 1 October to 30 September. The current Year 3 permit covers 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026. Applications for the next year (1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027) open on 3 August 2026, with permits posted out from 1 September 2026, and the council has said the price stays at £50 for that year.
Fees and dates can change year to year, so always check the live figure on the official Glasgow City Council garden waste page before you pay. If you’re a homeowner watching every council bill, it’s worth reading our guides on Glasgow council tax and the wider cost of living in Glasgow too.
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Cost | £50 per brown bin, per year |
| Permit period | 1 October to 30 September |
| Pro-rata refund? | No, full £50 whenever you join |
| How to buy | Online form via MyGov account |
| Delivery | Permit sticker posted within 21 days |
| Where the sticker goes | Back of the bin, under the handle |
| Garden waste collection | Every 2 weeks (fortnightly) |
| Food waste in brown bin | Free, no permit needed |
| Concessions | None available |
How to buy or renew your permit online
The whole thing is done online. You’ll need a MyGov account first, then you fill in the garden waste permit form on the council site and pay the £50 by card.
- Go to the council’s garden waste permit page and start the online application form.
- Sign in or set up a MyGov Scot account if you don’t have one.
- Confirm your address and pay the full £50. There’s no instalment option.
- The permit sticker arrives in the post within 21 days.
One bin, one permit. If you’ve got more than one brown bin you want collected for garden waste, you need a separate £50 permit for each, with a separate application for each bin.
Not online? You can phone the customer care centre on 0141 287 9700, but the line is only open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 16:00, and the council says the form is the quickest route anyway.
Renewing each year
Permits don’t roll over automatically. You have to reapply and pay again every year. Renewal for the next permit year opens at the start of August, so look out for the council’s letter or check their social channels around then. The permit is tied to your property address, not you, so if you move house it stays at the old address and can’t be transferred or refunded. You just apply fresh at the new place.
The sticker, and what happens without one
When your permit lands, it’s a sticker that goes on the back of the brown bin, under the handle. It shows your address, a unique permit reference and the expiry date, so the crew can clock at a glance which bins are paid up.
If you put garden waste out in a brown bin without a valid permit displayed, the crew won’t empty it. They’ll leave a hanger on the bin telling you why. So there’s no sneaking it past them. The sticker has to be on and in date.
Lost or damaged sticker? Replacement permits and replacement bins are free, you just fill in the council’s enquiry form. And if you change your mind, you can cancel within 14 days of applying for a refund. After that, no refunds.
Garden waste vs food waste: what goes in the brown bin
This trips a lot of folk up. The brown bin actually does two jobs, and only one of them needs a permit.
Garden waste (permit required)
These materials are accepted, but only if you’ve got a valid permit:
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves and bark
- Flowers and plants
- Hedge trimmings and weeds
- Twigs and small branches
Food waste (no permit needed)
Here’s the bit worth knowing. Food waste can go in the brown bin for free, with no permit, and it’s still collected every two weeks. If you only want food waste collected, you don’t need to do anything. The brown bin belongs to the property, so even if you skip the garden waste permit you keep the bin for food.
What’s not allowed in the brown bin
Keep all of this out, or the crew can refuse the whole bin as contaminated:
- Pet waste
- Soil, turf and stones
- Plant pots and garden furniture
- Plastic bags
- Any general waste, or anything that belongs in your other recycling bins
If you’re still getting your head round which bin is which across the city’s blue, grey, purple and brown system, our full Glasgow bin collection guide walks through the lot and how to find your collection days.
How often is garden waste collected?
Garden waste in the brown bin is collected every two weeks, the same fortnightly rhythm as the food waste collection. Your exact dates are on your personal waste and recycling calendar, which you can look up by address on the council website. Standard bins are 240 litres, and the council doesn’t offer larger garden waste bins because of the weight and the risk to crews. If you generate a lot, you buy a second bin and a second £50 permit.
Is it worth paying, or should you use the recycling centre?
Honest take: if you’ve a small garden or just a couple of grass cuts a year, £50 is steep for what you’ll use. You can drop garden waste off free of charge at any of the council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, so if you’ve got a car and a bit of patience, that’s the cheaper route. The permit earns its keep if you’ve a decent-sized garden, do regular mowing and hedge work through spring and summer, and don’t fancy hauling bags across the city every fortnight.
No concessions exist, by the way. Everyone pays the same £50 whether you’re a pensioner, on benefits, or otherwise. If money’s tight, the recycling centre is your free option.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Glasgow garden waste permit?
£50 per brown bin, per year. The fee can change each year, so check glasgow.gov.uk for the current figure.
Do I need a permit for food waste?
No. Food waste goes in the brown bin for free and is still collected every two weeks. The permit is only for garden waste.
When do permit applications open for the next year?
Applications for the 2026 to 2027 permit year (1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027) open on 3 August 2026, with stickers posted from 1 September 2026.
What happens if I put garden waste out without a permit?
The crew won’t empty the bin and will leave a hanger explaining why. You can take garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre for free instead.
Can I get a refund if I cancel?
Only if you cancel within 14 days of applying, through the myGlasgow portal. After that, no refunds, including for missed collections or if you move house.
What if I have two brown bins?
You need a separate £50 permit for each bin you want collected for garden waste, with a separate application for each.
How long does the permit take to arrive?
Up to 21 days from purchase. If it hasn’t shown after that, fill in the council’s online enquiry form.
Are there any discounts or concessions?
No. Everyone pays £50. Your only free option is dropping garden waste at a recycling centre.
The bottom line
The Glasgow garden waste permit is £50 a year per brown bin, bought online with a MyGov account, with the sticker going on the back of the bin under the handle. Food waste stays free in that same bin, garden waste does not. For exact current fees and to apply, always use the official Glasgow City Council garden waste page. While you’re sorting the home admin, it’s worth a look at our guides to the Glasgow LEZ, free parking in Glasgow and moving to Glasgow if you’re new to the city.
Last updated June 2026. Fees and dates are set by Glasgow City Council and can change. Always confirm the current figure on glasgow.gov.uk before paying.
