Stirling residents have forked out almost £500,000 for controversial new garden waste and recycling permits in just over a month.
More than 14,000 of the permits - at £35 a time - have been purchased by locals.
From April 19 garden waste will only be collected from brown bins with a valid permit on display - although food waste will be collected for free in the same bin.
In addition, households eligible for the concession scheme will receive their permit automatically in time for the service starting.
The council says the new annual permit, costing £35 (£1.45 per collection), will help it to deliver the non-statutory service in the years ahead for those who join the scheme.
However, the decision has not gone down well with everyone - with some locals pointing out the uptake so far is little more than a third of possible households.
Many also took to social media to say they have been waiting weeks for their permits to arrive.
Dean Callan said: “In other words, only 35 per cent of Stirling Council [area] households have signed up to the scheme. Oh dear oh dear.”
William Brown added: “Not a bad wee extra windfall, £490,000 collected already. That,s only so far, wait until the rest pay in. Thankfully we don’t have a brown bin.”
“Absolutely shocking,” said Lee Lamond. “Already one of the highest charging council taxes and now pulling this stunt.”
Bryan Grieve said: “That’s raised £490,000 for doing the same collection of a brown bin they are collecting anyway, well done suckers.”
The council, however, said: “Although it’s less than two weeks before the new scheme gets underway, residents can still buy a permit in time to have their garden waste collected from April 19.
“The easiest way to buy your permit is by completing the online application form but you can also make a purchase via by calling our contact centre on 01786 404040 (weekdays only).
“A permit pack will be posted to residents who sign up to the service. It will include information on what waste goes in the brown bin and instructions on how to attach the permit to the bin, which residents should now start doing ahead of the service going live on April 19.
“If your permit doesn’t arrive in time, in the interim, an e-mail confirmation can be printed off and attached to your brown bin as a temporary permit.
“Households who don’t want to have this service will still have food waste collected, for free, every two weeks in the brown bin.”
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More details on how the garden waste permit will work and what can be put in your brown bin can be found on the council website.
