Brown bin collections are changing from 29 November 2021.
Brown bin collections will now take place 7 days a week, including Sundays, over a longer working day, as opposed to working 6 days a week at present. Bins will be collected 7 days a week between 7am and 7pm.
New Bin Collection Calendars
All residents within West Lothian, except those on grey weekly collections, will receive a paper copy of the new bin collection calendars in the post between 17 and 19 November. A letter will also accompany each calendar to inform residents of service changes. Residents should check their calendars carefully for any changes to their scheduled collection days.
Some residents may receive an extra bin collection during week commencing 22 November. This is due to the length of time between the last collection on the old schedule and the first collection on the new schedule. Residents being offered an extra collection will see this highlighted on their calendar by a coloured band on that particular week. Householders should leave their bin out from 7am on 22 November for the duration of this week and we shall endeavour to provide an extra service during that period.
While most changes relate to brown bin collections, a small number of residents will find that their blue and grey bin collection day has changed, therefore please check your calendar carefully for any changes to all of your uplifts.
Please visit Bin Collection Calendar Dates to check collection days, download the new calendar or subscribe to email reminders one day before your scheduled uplift. Please ensure you are downloading the new version of the calendar.
Background
Changes to the brown bin schedule are due to the introduction of required cost savings approved at Council Executive Committee on 22 June 2021. The changes allow for a reduction in the number of bin lorries the service operates while maintaining the current collection service and staffing level required to provide this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown bins are now being collected on a Sunday. Waste collections are moving to a new shift pattern working 7 days a week, as opposed to the current 6 days (Mon-Sat), in order to make essential cost savings. The crews will now work on a Sunday, primarily collecting brown bins. This therefore means that the collection team have had to amend their routes which has resulted in changes to collection days.
If you are on a recycling service (you have a blue or brown bin) you will receive an up to date calendar through the post between 17 and 19 November 2021. Please ensure you check the calendar carefully for any changes to your brown bin collection day and also your blue/grey bin collection days, as some residents may find that the day their blue/grey bin is uplifted has also changed.
You can also check your next day of collection, download your calendar and subscribe to receive email reminders the day before your scheduled uplift using the Bin Collection Calendar Dates.
The majority of residents will not be changing blue or grey collection schedules however a small number of residents will find that their blue and grey bin collection day has changed, therefore please check your calendar carefully for any changes to all of your uplifts.
As with all collections your bins should be presented for collection at the kerbside for 7am with the lid fully closed and no bags at the side. Collections can take place from 7am-7pm, 7 days a week.
On this occasion if you are on a recycling service you will receive a new calendar through the post. Those properties with only residual (landfill/grey bin) collections will not receive a calendar as your normal Saturday collection day is not affected by this service change.
You can check your collection days on the West Lothian Council website using the Bin Collection Calendar Dates. If any residents do not have access to the internet they can also visit a local library or CIS office to print off a calendar - please note there is a small fee for this service.
Some residents may receive an extra bin collection during week commencing 22 November. This is due to the length of time between the last collection on the old schedule and the first collection on the new schedule.
If you are being offered an extra collection this will be highlighted on your new calendar by a coloured band for that particular week. You should leave your bin out from 7am on 22 November for the duration of this week and we shall endeavour to provide an extra service during that period. Please continue to check the Bin Collection Daily Updates page for up to date information on your uplift.
In order to meet essential cost savings within the service, Recycling and Waste Services has moved to a new shift working pattern and will now work 7 days a week, collecting brown bins on a Sunday, as opposed to previously working 6 days a week.
Recycling and Waste Services has reduced the number of lorries in its fleet in order make the required cost savings. Although the service has reduced the number of collection vehicles the number of households requiring collection remains the same, therefore the service will now operate on an extra day, collecting brown bins on a Sunday, in order to maintain the current collections. By adopting a new shift pattern and operating on an extra day this does not increase expenditure as current staff levels are maintained, however operating costs are reduced due to the reduction in vehicles requiring maintenance and running costs.
Service Change Enquiry Form
Use this form to contact us about any upcoming changes to the service.
