Recycling on the up in West Dunbartonshire after new bin timetable

Council bosses have admitted that although their were concerns over the roll out of the new three-weekly bin scheme amongst residents, they are now seeing the benefits of the programme.

Speaking at the authority's Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development (IRED) Committee Councillor Lauren Oxley asked for an update on the new schedule and its feedback from residents.

She said: “I have a question about the satisfaction levels for waste services, they are particularly low. Unfortunately, this doesn't come as a massive surprise to me because I do receive a lot of complaints from constituents regarding missed bins and pull-outs not being carried out and substantial delays and resolving issues once they're reported.

“It's also my understanding that these figures are from before we started enforcing the bin sticker policy so I'm a bit worried that satisfaction levels are going to continue to decline once that's also enforced.”

The new timetable, which was circulated in November 2025, means that households have recyclable waste collected twice in each three-week period, with general waste uplifted only once.

(Image: WBC)

Council bosses said they believed the change in schedule will encourage residents to recycle more after bin samples indicated that up to 70 per cent of items placed in general waste bins could have been recycled if placed in the correct bin.

Gail MacFarlane, chief officer for roads and neighbourhoods, acknowledged that there has been challenges with the introduction of the new schedule but that they are working through the issues.

She said: "There was some period of change and disruption as we implemented this new change and the team are apologetic about that, and we have worked where we can to ensure that that's reduced and satisfaction hopefully will start to increase again.

"Where we have challenges and issues raised to us, we have waste aware officers and they'll attend and they'll speak to that resident and just to kind of understand what the issue is, whether it's an issue with our collection and something that we need to review maybe our routes because there was new routes implemented as well.

"So there was big changes and a learning curve for our operatives as well as the wider community but also we'll then look at is there further information that can help that resident in relation to the collection."

Despite the issues, Gail says that recycling figures are increasing whilst general waste is being reduced.

It is hoped the new schedule can help reduce the council spend on waste services so that "council resources can be focused on other priorities."

She added: "Early indications are positive. We've seen the residual waste tonnage reduce month on month. We're seeing the recycling tonnage increase. We're seeing food waste increase and we've also seen that this is early indications that this will have a saving for the council as well.

"Though it has been a challenge and you know I can't not agree with that, we are now seeing the benefits and the outcomes that this can, should and will provide to our communities."