Moray garden waste permit charge agreed for 2024/25
Moray Council has agreed the charge for brown garden waste bin collection permits for 2024/25 will increase to £50.
After being frozen for two years, the charge decreased to £36 in 2023/24 but increasing costs to deliver the service has seen the 39% uplift for next year.
The collection of green and garden waste is not a statutory requirement for local authorities, with a number of authorities not providing a collection service for green waste and others ceasing their collections from next year or increasing their charges.
Results from the Council’s first phase of budget consultation, undertaken online in September, showed 60% of participants were willing to see an increase in the garden waste permit charge, with 43% of them agreeing a moderate to significant increase was acceptable.
Leader of Moray Council, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said of the increase: “We’ve been saying for some time now that next year we’re facing the toughest budget setting challenge we’ve seen for many years. While I was pleased we were able to support reduction in the charge for garden waste permits this year to explore if there would be an increase in uptake, unfortunately there was no evidence of this. It’s simply not possible to continue to deliver the same level of service without an increase next year. In the same way that household costs have risen, so have our operating costs.
“I hope it’s a given that this decision, as with all our budget decisions this year, hasn’t been taken lightly. Our engagement with residents shows people are willing to see increases to their garden waste permit to avoid a reduction in service, so we’re taking that feedback on board.”
Garden waste permits will be available to buy from February 2024 with details on how to apply and pay in instalments released soon.