A message from Dumfries and Galloway Council:

You may have noticed that some bins have been ‘tagged’ recently. If you bin is tagged it will also not be uplifted. Our FAQ’s below will explain more on tagging.

Why are bins being tagged?
Since 2009 our Council has been tagging bins that are too heavy or overfilled. In recent months our staff have reported a substantial increase in the number of bins in these categories being presented for collection, resulting in more tags being issued.

How should I present my bin for collection?
There are two things to be mindful of. The lid should be closed and the bin mustn’t be too heavy.

Why has my bin been red tagged (lid open)?
Red tags are applied when a bin lid cannot be closed. The red tag is placed onto the bin to inform the customer why the bin was not emptied and how the householder can dispose of their waste.

Why has my bin been white tagged (too heavy)?
Our crews will white tag wheeled bins that have too much waste compacted into them. Too much waste in a bin makes it difficult for staff to manoeuvre safely. The white tag is placed onto the bin to inform the customer why the bin was not emptied and how the householder can dispose of their waste.

If my bin has been tagged will the collection crews be sent back for it?
No. Your bin will not be uplifted until the following collection day and should have the lid closed and not be too heavy.

Can I present additional waste bags for collection?
No. Households can either their wheeled bin or the annual orange sacks they have been provided with.

My bin was tagged, how do I get it emptied?
You can either take the waste to your local waste recycling centre or contact the council to arrange an individual uplift. This kind of uplift will cost £13.57 for up to 10 black bags of waste or for up to 3 bulky items.

Why has my orange sack beside my wheeled bin not be uplifted? 
Orange sacks are only issued to householders who do not have access or have space to store a wheeled bin. Orange sacks are not available to purchase and will not be collected from households with wheelie bins.

Why does Council have a Waste Collection Policy?

The Waste Collection Policy is in place for several reasons;

To ensure the health and safety of our workforce, wheeled bins need to be pushed onto hydraulic working gear and therefore the view of Refuse Operatives cannot be restricted by open lids.

The environmental impact, open lid can attract littering to surrounding area caused by wind and wildlife.

There is a resource impact; uplifting uncontrolled excess waste has impact on available capacity within the collection vehicles to uplift all its scheduled route. The consequences of lifting excess waste is that collection crews must visit the disposal point more times than was planned which costs crwws time and the Council money