It was agreed at today’s Executive Committee that additional funding identified through the budget process will be spent immediately, including tackling fly-tipping.

The new package, proposed by the council administration with cross-party approval, will include more staff and equipment to prevent fly-tipping and littering and 1,550 new public bins, including “smart” bins that compact waste.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “We know that keeping South Lanarkshire clean and tidy is a priority for our residents, so I am delighted to have been able to bring forward this new plan to improve waste services and tackle fly-tipping and littering.

“We have already invested in this across our area, not least through the Frontline First Fund, and I’m delighted that we have been able to reach agreement that his additional money will now take this work even further.”

The committee agreed to the new investment from funds that are available ahead of the budget-setting process for 2026-27. Another £4.5m will be used to help bridge the budget gap going forwards.

The largest part of the £2.5m will be spend on new waste collection vehicles, with the purchase of four RCVs and two Luton vans costing just over £1.5m.

Additional staff and equipment will be made available to prevent fly-tipping and littering, as well as improving enforcement. The extra £350,000 announced today doubles the additional investment agreed in February this year, meaning an extra £700,000 to tackle fly-tipping and littering.

A total of 100 perspex-sided communal bins also will be introduced to improve recycling rates in flatted and tenement properties.

The public bin replacement programme will see a boost with 1,500 free standing hooded bins fitted. In high footfall areas, such as town centres and country parks, 60 solar compacting smart bins will be introduced.

Additional garden composters, which have proved very popular with residents, will also be made available.

Following agreement with other political groups, Cllr Fagan agreed that the £350,000 additional money for waste and fly-tipping would also include work to improve citizen engagement and awareness of the issues and solutions to them.