Understand current and future developments
HIGHLAND COUNCIL WASTE SERVICES
Developing projects that chime with the Council’s current and planned services
If there is not a garden waste or food waste collection service or the distances to carry waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) areis considered long, this is where a community composting project could provide a valuable service to your community, managing the waste locally and providing a compost that can be used by householders or community growing projects – providing environmental benefits, reducing costs and providing an opportunity for the development of local skills.
It makes sense to understand what services the council is aiming to provide before setting up a project. For example, if a household food waste collection service is available or being planned for your community this might impact your own plans. It is therefore important to speak to council officers to understand what is being considered for the future. You can access the council’s website on waste and recycling here.
The food waste collection service
In 2024, The Highland Council implemented a service change to their waste collections across Highland. This included expanding their food waste collection service to an additional 30,000 households. Full details can be found on the Highland Council website.
The garden waste collection service runs from 1 September to 31 August each year with a winter break in December, January and February. This is a permit system, with up to three permits per household possible. This has a cost which is reviewed annually, and you can find out more about this if you go to the council’s home page for garden waste.
The collection service for garden waste is available at many locations across the regions and you can find out if a collection from your community is possible using the postcode finder. The service is optional, and householders are also able to take their garden waste along to one of the 21 household waste recycling centres free of charge, although in the Highland region it is understood that this can often involve a significant journey.
