Waste & Recycling in Hightae

Dumfries & Galloway Council handles all your bin collections in Hightae, Heck, Greenhill and Smallholm. Here’s the no-nonsense guide – from checking your exact collection day to recycling rules, the textile bank next to the hall, glass bottle banks, bulky items, garden waste permits and the nearest recycling centre.

Find your bin collection days

Collections run on a four-week cycle: non-recyclable waste (grey bin) every two weeks, with your blue and red recycling bins in the weeks in between. Food waste and garden waste have their own schedules.

The easiest way is to pop your postcode into the council’s online tool – it shows everything for the next six months, including any holiday changes.

Check your bin days with your postcode →

Put your bins out by 6.30am on collection day with the handle facing the road. Bring them back in as soon as you can so they don’t blow around.

Your bins

Here’s what each bin is for in Hightae and the Royal Four Towns (official Dumfries & Galloway Council bins):

Grey bin – non-recyclable waste
Grey bin

Non-recyclable waste

Blue bin – paper and cardboard
Blue bin

Paper and cardboard

Red bin – plastic, metal and cartons
Red bin

Plastic, metal and cartons

Brown bin – garden waste (permit only)
Brown bin

Garden waste (permit only)

What goes in which bin

Keep it simple – only clean, dry recycling goes in the right bin. Contaminated loads just get sent to landfill.

Red lid bin – plastics, cans & cartons

  • Food and drink bottles, toiletry bottles, medicine pots
  • Yoghurt pots, butter tubs, plastic trays
  • Tins, drink cans, clean foil, aerosols (empty)
  • Food and drink cartons

Rinse and squash everything. No plastic bags, no glass, no polystyrene.

Blue lid bin – paper & cardboard

Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard boxes, cereal packets. Flatten boxes to save space.

Grey bin (non-recyclable) is for everything else that can’t be recycled or taken to the tip. Food waste goes in the separate caddy if your area has the service (most of Hightae does).

Garden waste (brown bin) – permit required

This is an optional paid-for service that runs from March to November each year. Once you have a permit, your brown bin is collected fortnightly along with your other bins.

How it works

  • Cost: £40 per bin per year (£20 if you receive means-tested Council Tax Reduction)
  • Season: March to November (fortnightly collections)
  • Permit: You receive a sticker to display on the back of your brown bin (under the handles)
  • Bin: The council will supply a brown bin if you don’t already have one
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Brown bin = garden waste only

Grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, small branches, weeds, flowers.
No soil, turf, cat litter or food waste.

Apply online (or at a library/customer service centre). Sign up by the end of January for the full season starting in March. If you apply later, collections start within six weeks.

Apply for your garden waste permit →

Once you have the permit your brown bin collection dates will automatically appear in your personal bin calendar when you check your postcode.

Textile Recycling Bank (next to the Hall)

Right next to the Royal Four Towns Hall in Hightae is the council’s textile recycling bank. You can drop off clean, dry clothes, shoes, bags, curtains and other textiles – even if they’re worn or torn (as long as they’re not wet or soiled). The money raised helps fund local community projects.

Textile Recycling Bank next to the Royal Four Towns Hall, Hightae

The bank is open 24/7 and is clearly signposted. Just pull up, open the hatch and pop your bags in – no need to book.

Glass recycling

Glass is not collected at the kerbside in Hightae or the Royal Four Towns. You need to take it to a bottle bank. The nearest ones are at the Lockerbie Recycling Centre or the small bottle bank at the Hightae village hall car park (next to the textile bank). Please rinse jars and bottles and remove lids before you drop them off.

Bulky waste collections

Got a sofa, fridge, mattress or other big items? Book a kerbside collection – it’s straightforward and they’ll take it away for a small fee.

Items Cost
First item£23.50
Second item£10.00
Each extra item£5.00

Book bulky waste collection →

Items must be out by 7.30am on the day. Garden waste is not included in this service.

Nearest recycling centre

The Lockerbie Recycling Centre is the closest for anything that won’t fit in your bins (electricals, rubble, paint, etc.).

Address: Muirhead, Lockerbie DG11 1LL. You usually need to book a slot online – check the council site for current opening times and what they accept.

Find recycling centres and book a visit →

Missed collection or need help?

Report a missed bin or order a replacement through the council website. If you need an assisted collection (because of mobility issues) you can apply online too.

Phone the council on 030 33 33 3000 (Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm) if you prefer to speak to someone.