General information about waste & recycling can be seen on the Glasgow City Council (GCC) website.
Reporting something (e.g. missed bin or fly tipping) is often best done through your personal account on the GCC website - see myaccount. Or on your phone - download the app “MyGlasgow"”. Also, you can highlight a problem by reporting it through the GCC twitter handle @myGlasgowCC
* Please note to get to the right page on GCC myaccount, you need to have an account (set one up at myaccount) and to be logged in. Otherwise, the link will just take you to the login page. Once you log in, you can find all these services.
Check your collection days for blue, grey and green bins:
Click to search the council bin calendar
For an individual missed bin collection, report on…
My Account Missed bin collection*
Or MyGlasgow Phone App (download from your phone app store)
Collection of bulky waste used to be free, but charges were introduced in July 2021. For information on the bulky waste collection service, see the GCC website.
The charges for bulky waste collections are:
10 standard items for £35
Large electrical items are charged at £35 each
See the official list of “standard items” and “large electrical”
Arrange a bulky waste pick up online*
Neighbours appreciate a note left on your bulky waste items with collection details. This helps to differentiate genuine bulky waste collections from fly tipping.
BLUE BINS – mixed recycling
The standard provision of recycling bins is four blue 240 litre bins for a close of 8 flats. If access is difficult or there are space restrictions, the provision may be different. You can order an additional blue bin by filling in the form online or on your MyGlasgow phone app.
Some properties number their blue bins to help keep track of them. It is suggested that bins are kept in back courts/gardens to minimise anti-social behaviour including bin fires. Overfilled Blue bins are frequent targets for bin fires. Blue bin overflow MAY go in the green bins as it is still recycled (please fill Blue bins first).
GREY BINS – food waste
Order an additional grey bin by filling in the form online or on your MyGlasgow phone app.
GREEN BINS – unrecyclable waste i.e. everything else
The council website does not say what the standard provision of the green general waste bins is for tenements (although for houses, it is one green bin per household). If you think your provision is not sufficient, you could try phoning the Customer Care Centre at 0141 287 9700.
You can swap the standard-sized green bin for a larger green bin, if you have a big household or have a particular need. A council officer may come and check out your waste bin needs.
Recycling - Blue Bins
Put the following in your blue bin:
Paper
Cardboard
Plastic bottles - food and toiletry
Food and drink cans
Empty aerosol cans
DO NOT put these items in the blue bin:
General waste
Food waste
Glass bottles - take them to glass recycling points
Yogurt pots & Margarine/butter tubs
Cardboard drinks containers, Cartons, Tetra paks & Elopaks
Plastic bags
Foil - Foil can be recycled if it is clean of food and grease
Books
Get more details on blue bin recycling. Also see where you can recycle glass and clothes on the public recycling site map, and recycle and re-use other things at the council recycling centres.
Food waste - Grey Bins
Put the following in your grey bin:
Dairy
Meat and bones
Fruit
Vegetables
Bread, cakes and pastries
Rice and pasta
Fish
Tea bags and coffee grounds
DO NOT put these items in the grey bin:
General waste
Food packaging
Oils
Liquids
Pet Litter/Animal bedding
Get more details on food waste recycling.
Please DO NOT dump food in lanes as it attracts rats and mice which are a growing problem in Glasgow.
Green Bins - unrecyclable waste
Any items that cannot go into a recycling a blue bin or grey food caddy, can go into a the green general waste bin, EXCEPT hazardous items, bulky or electrical items and batteries. Find out more about green bins.
Anything not in a bin and lying in the street or a back lane is considered fly-tipping. This includes black bags that won’t fit into the bins and xmas trees.
Report fly tipping online or on MyGlasgow phone app or by phoning 0141 287 1058
If there is an ongoing problem with waste collection, then contact your local Hillhead councillors:
Ken Andrew: ken.andrew@glasgow.gov.uk
Hanzala Malik: hanzala.malik@glasgow.gov.uk
Martha Wardrop: martha.wardrop@glasgow.gov.uk
Martha Wardrop is vice-convenor of the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Committee. This committee helps draw up plans for Waste & Recycling, Street Environment, Pollution, as well as other things. It meets 6 weekly. So, contact Martha if you want to input to the overall plans.