A kerbside recycling service is delivered to major settlements in the Council's three operational areas:
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Settlements in Caithness receiving this service include: Wick, Staxigo, Papigoe, Milton, Haster, Keiss, Reiss, Ackergill, Thrumster, Halkirk, Thurso, Scrabster, Glengolly and Castletown.
In Sutherland GREAN (Golspie Recycling Action Network) operate a weekly kerbside recycling service in the following settlements: Brora, Donroch, Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, Golspie and Helsmdale. Householders on the routes are provided with a blue box which should be used for paper, carboard, textiles and glass bottles and jars. Plastic bottles (caps off) and food and drink cans are also collected in the large plastic bag which is also provided. For more information on this service please call GREAN on 01408 634253.
In Easter Ross all larger settlements north of Evanton are included in the scheme as are the Seaboard villages.
Ross, Skye and and Lochaber
In Mid-Ross the following settlements receive the service - Dingwall, Maryburgh, Conon Bridge, Muir of Ord, North Kessock, Munlochy, Avoch, Fortrose, Rosemarkie and Strathpeffer.
There is currently no service in Skye and Lochalsh and Fort William is the only town in Lochaber that receives kerbside recycling collections at this time.
Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey
Most properties in Beauly and Inverness including the east Inverness settlements of Ardersier, Croy, Culloden, Smithton and Cradlehall have materials collected from their kerbside for recycling.
Almost all properties in Badenoch and Strathspey also receive this service.
What about other areas. Is there a possibility they will receive a collection later?
Councillors agreed in April 2008 to expand the kerbside recycling service to cover all of Highland. This is likely to be completed by Autumn 2009. More information will be available as the roll-out of this service procgresses.
What kind of paper can be recycled in the box?
Newspapers, magazines, office paper, unwanted mail (no envelopes), brochures, catalogues, telephone directories, shredded paper (in bags) and greeting cards.
[Back to top]
What kind of paper cannot be recycled in the box?
Envelopes, cardboard and beverage cartons (e.g. tetrapak).
Envelopes are not accepted as the gum and plastic windows found in envelopes interfere with the reprocessing cycle.
Beverage cartons contain plastic, foil and cardboard, and are not suitable for recycling with paper
Cardboard is reprocessed separately as it is a different grade than paper therefore it should be kept separate from the paper. Cardboard can be recycled at a number of Recycling Centres, to find your nearest facility visit the Area Recycling Centres page.
[Back to top]
What type of tins and cans should be put in the box?
Steel and aluminium food and drink cans. It is important that the food cans are rinsed out. No need to take off the labels.
What if other materials are found in the box?
These will be left behind by the collector with a note to explain why.
What about Kerbside collection of other materials for recycling?
The success of the current Kerbside recycling will be monitored, and as the infrastructure improves, additional materials may be collected for recycling.
[Back to top]
What garden waste can go in the brown wheeled bin?
Grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, weeds, plants, leaves, prunings, cut flowers, tree loppings (up to 6 inches / 15 centimetres in diameter)
No stones or large quantities of earth or soil, timber, plastic bags, polystyrene, pots or animal waste. If the bin is contaminated with other material it will not be emptied. A sticker on the bin will inform the householder to remove the contaminated material and the bin will be emptied on their next garden waste collection day.
Garden waste facilities are also available at at a number of Recycling Centres, to find your nearest facility visit the Area Recycling Centres page.
Why can't kitchen waste go in the brown bin?
Any waste generated in a household kitchen is classified as "catering waste" as defined under the Animal By-products Regulations 2005. This legislation also defines the standards that a compost system must adhere to before catering waste can be processed. The Highland Council currently treats the garden waste collected in the brown bin in open windrow composting sytems. This type of system does not meet the required standard to deal with catering waste. The Council is currently investigating the use of In-vessel composting systems to enable catering waste to be collected and processed.
The materials are taken to a number of facilities in the Highlands where they are bulked up and then sent for reprocessing. The paper is sent to a paper merchant in Stirling and is made into newsprint. The cans are separated into steel and aluminium. Steel cans are sent to Glasgow where they are dispatched for reprocessing; the aluminium cans are sent to Alloa before being dispatched to the reprocessor. The garden waste is shredded and composted at sites throughout the Highlands it is then either used as a soil conditioner or for landfill restoration.
[Back to top]
Can I buy the compost from the garden waste collection?
The compost made from the garden waste collections is not currently for sale.
Can I get an box or bin?
One of our team will assess the need for additional containers; you will need to contact your local TEC Services offices.
What about other recyclable materials?
There are recycling facilities for glass, textiles, scrap metal, electrical appliances, car batteries and engine oil at various Recycling Points and Recycling Centres throughout the Highlands.
[Back to top]