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North Ayrshire Council

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine, Scotland, KA12 8EE
Fax: +44 (0)1294 324144  Overseas: +44 1294 323963
Garden_Rubbish_Large 

Garden waste and compost

We collect garden refuse using a system which will turn garden waste into compost. If you wish to take part, you will be given a free brown wheeled bin especially for your garden waste. The collected material will be composted.

 

Brown bins should be put out on garden refuse collection days only and placed at the same collection point as your domestic bin.

 

How will the system work?


Telephone 0845 603 0594 to request a brown wheeled bin. The material from your brown bin will be collected separately from your grey bin. Garden refuse will only be uplifted when the bin is more than half full.



What can be put in the brown bin?

  • Grass cuttings and weeds.
  • Hedge prunings and clippings.
  • Dead flowers and plants.
  • Leaves and bark.


Hedging and branches should be put into easy-to-lift bundles and placed beside the brown bin.

 

Bags of garden rubbish placed next to your brown bin for collection will not be uplifted. These should be kept until the next collection or taken to a recycling centre for composting.

What cannot be put in the brown bin?

  • Soil
  • Wooden fencing, doors, etc
  • Rubble
  • Polythene sacks and plastics.


If your brown bin contains any waste that is not organic it cannot be collected as it will contaminate the end product.

 

What happens to the organic garden refuse once it has been collected?
We use it on our public shrub beds.

What cannot be put in the brown bin?
Bags - Please don't put your garden waste into plastic bags then put it in the bin, Plastic, Rubble, Turf or Soil, Wood of any kind, Juice Cans etc.

What can you put in your brown bin?
Grass Cuttings, Weeds, Dead flowers & plants, Leaves & bark, Hedging & branches - these should be tied up and put beside the brown bin in manageable bundles – no longer than one metre lengths. Any longer than this and we have difficulty throwing the branches into our vehicles. You can't book a special uplift for this – so you must put them out for collection along with your brown bin. If you have lots of branches then put them out gradually over a number of weeks. No more than two to three small tied bundles should be put out at any one time.

Can I have a bonfire in my garden to dispose of garden waste?
Yes, you can have a bonfire in your garden, provided it is controlled and does not become a nuisance to neighbours. However, the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allow the Council to serve a notice on a person causing a nuisance to neighbours from bonfires. Bonfires can be very irritating to neighbours and the smoke, smuts and smell can prevent them from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging out washing. It is recommended that you inform your neighbours before any burning activities are carried out. Alternative methods of disposal which are less environmentally damaging (like composting or shredding) are preferable.