Council cracks down on Glasgow businesses 'not handling rubbish properly'

Some 20 businesses not handling rubbish properly in the city centre were discovered during a council crackdown with one restaurant fined.

Leaving bin lids open, rubbish being left out at the wrong times and inadequate waste capacity were some of the problems noticed during daily patrols.

The council issued ten advisory letters to firms during a two-week commercial waste project that took place between Merchant City and Finnieston.

Companies who failed to show evidence of a waste contract or didn’t engage with officers were given Section 34 Duty of Care Notices.

A restaurant was handed a fixed penalty notice for not complying with waste management requirements.

The patrols took place in December and councillors will be presented with the findings at next week’s economy, housing, transport and regeneration city policy committee as part of a presentation on the city centre strategy.

A council report said: “The two-week Commercial Waste Project carried out in December 2025 gathered 80 intelligence logs across the city centre between Merchant City and Finnieston through extended daily patrols.

“Officers engaged with 57 businesses, with a further 23 requiring follow-up due to closures during patrol hours.

“Compliance checks identified several issues, including inadequate waste capacity, open bin lids and waste presented outwith designated times, leading to 10 informal advisory letters and multiple requests for contractor guidance.”

It added: ”Where businesses failed to provide evidence of a waste contract or did not engage with officers, 9 Section 34 Duty of Care Notices were issued, and one restaurant received a Fixed Penalty Notice for non-compliance. Photographic evidence accompanies the findings.”

The information will be presented along with a wide range of issues updating councillors on the progress of the city centre strategy for 2024 to 2030 and the city centre strategic development framework.