ANOTHER chance will be offered to people wanting to sign up to have their garden waste collected.

Earlier this year, East Lothian Council introduced a £35 charge for the emptying of brown bins, which are used for garden waste.

A deadline of May 6 was introduced but the local authority is now opening a window again offering people the chance to register.

The second registration period will be from August 26 to September 6.

READ MORE: East Lothian Council brown bins: £35 annual charge confirmed

This follows the first registration period which saw about 19,600 properties being registered to receive a fortnightly garden waste service from the beginning of next month.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The Council is in the process of finalising the routing and schedule for those who have already signed up.

“Residents who have registered during this period will shortly receive their permit sticker and collection calendars.

“Garden waste permits cost £35 per property.

“Residents wishing to sign up for the service between August 26 and September 6 will be able to do so online until 3.30pm on Friday, September 6.

“Those who sign up during this window will have their collections run from October 21, 2024, to September 1, 2025.”

READ MORE: Deadline approaching to apply for permit to empty brown bin

Previously, the local authority highlighted that “many” other councils across Scotland, including neighbouring Edinburgh and Midlothian, charge for the service.

They stressed that the collection of garden waste was not a statutory service and “with reducing budgets and increasing costs, East Lothian Council can no longer afford to operate this type of collection as a free service”.

Anyone registering will get a sticker to go on their brown bin.

The sticker shows the address and permit number for the registered property, as well as the expiry date of the permit.

Collection crews will only empty brown bins with a valid sticker clearly displayed and they will check the sticker details match the property address.

If residents do not purchase a permit and continue to place garden waste in their brown bin, the bin will not be emptied.

No concessions are available and residents can continue to dispose of garden waste free of charge at any of the county’s three open recycling centres.

The move comes after East Lothian Council changed from a two-weekly to a three-weekly service for emptying green bins.

For more information, go to www.eastlothian.gov.uk