At PermiServ, we’ve established a reputation for supporting councils as they transition to a chargeable garden waste service or look for ways to enhance their existing chargeable service. Our bespoke online portal and state-of-the-art permit printing facilities make garden waste services smoother and more efficient, helping local authorities save time and money.
When it comes to choosing the style of permit that will suit residents best, councils have two main options: independent (or lined) permits, or integrated (linerless) permits.
We have the ability to produce both types of permit and here we lay out the benefits of each style.
Independent garden waste permits
Independent permits are delivered to residents with a separate welcome letter and information on the garden waste service, and have numerous benefits:
- Helpful for collection crews. A5-sized permits are larger and therefore easier for collection crews to identify at a glance, helping to reduce missed collections and ensuring smoother, more efficient operations
- Tamper-proof. With ultra-high-tack adhesives and light-fast inks, these permits are designed to be secure, to give you and your residents peace of mind
- Improved communication. The liner of the permit isn’t automatically waste – it can be used to communicate with residents, to give them important notices or instructions for using their permit, or even incentives like garden centre vouchers
- Innovative tech integration. The larger permit size makes it easier to integrate QR code technology, offering another channel for direct communication with residents.
- High-quality materials. The best-quality inks and strong adhesives make these permits durable and ensure they can withstand all weather conditions
Integrated garden waste permits
Delivered as part of the welcome letter, integrated permits have their own benefits:
- Convenience. The permit and welcome letter arrive on a single sheet, limiting the number of different elements residents must keep track of
- Less waste. A permit incorporated into a single A4 sheet reduces wastepaper
- Same high quality as independent permits. We produce integrated permits with the same premium-quality inks and ultra-high-tack adhesives as our independent permits, giving you and your residents value for money and peace of mind
- QR code functionality. Though space is more limited on integrated permits, careful design allows for the addition of QR codes to help communicate with residents
Councils should be aware that each permit type has its drawbacks. For independent permits, the main disadvantage is the liner – it is often seen as contributing additional waste. However, there is potential for this to be used or repurposed, so it is not a given that independent permits will generate extra waste.
Integrated permits are generally smaller, which makes them harder for collection crews to identify quickly and may marginally increase the risk of missed collections. Inevitably, a smaller size of permit also brings design constraints – but here at PermiServ, we work with you on your permit design until you’re totally happy with it.
There is a slight misconception surrounding the environmental benefits of integrated permits. The permit, a sticker, does have a liner – it just gets removed during production. Integrating the sticker into the letter requires the addition of a coating to the letter paper, and that coating is often a contaminant of the recycling stream.
Both permit types have their pros and cons, and our mission is to make life as easy as possible for council teams as they work to provide services for their residents. Whatever your garden waste permit needs may be, contact us to find out how we can help.
