The permits will come into force from 1 April this year, and a cost of £45 will be required if residents wish to continue to have their garden waste collected. 

The cost is £45 per bin for a maximum of three bins, and the same charge applies regardless of bin size (140 litre or 240 litre).

The move brings the council in line with most other local authorities across Scotland who uplift garden waste. 

There is no government funding for this non-statutory service, and more than two-thirds of local authorities already charge for this service. 

The scheme will also be made available to residents in rural Clydesdale, many of whom do not currently receive a garden waste service. 

You can apply for the permit on the council’s website. The page also contains more details on how to display your permit, what can be put in the bin and further information.

Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “The garden waste collection scheme is highly valued by many residents across South Lanarkshire and is currently provided free of charge. It is not, however, a statutory service and continued pressure on council budgets meant that we have to consider all options available to us, including charging for garden waste uplifts. 

“While we appreciate our residents are also faced with their own financial pressures, the charge will mean we can continue to operate the service while also introducing it to the Clydesdale area. This is in line with the practice of most other councils across Scotland which already charge for garden waste uplift or are bringing in a charge. 

“It is important to note that food waste will still be collected in the burgundy bins for free. 

“Households with permits in place will see their bins collected every two weeks, except over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Introducing a permit as an opt-in scheme means residents without gardens or who don’t have any garden waste aren’t forced into contributing to the cost of providing the service. 

“Householders with gardens will have the choice to either purchase a permit or take up any of the free options for their garden waste such as through taking it to recycling centres or composting, with information on both of these being available on the council’s website.” 

Food waste will still be collected for free from those who choose not to apply for a garden waste permit, and continuing to use burgundy bins for this will free up space in residents’ non-recycling bins. 

Although residents can apply for permits from today, the new system will not come into force until 1 April.