New bins delivered across Ross & Cromarty
The Highland Council has started delivering the new non-recyclable waste bins across Ross and Cromarty (and Dornoch) as part of the changes to the waste and recycling services which are being introduced across the region.
Residents in Ross and Cromarty (and Dornoch) are asked to look out for their new grey non-recyclable waste bin as these are now being delivered across the region.
The bin is being delivered with a detailed booklet explaining the new waste and recycling collection service. The new grey bin is for non-recyclable waste and will be collected every 2 weeks. Current green (or grey) bins will be used to recycle mixed plastics, metals and food and drink cartons. Blue bins will be used to recycle paper, card and cardboard only. Each of the recycling bins will be collected every 4 weeks. The booklet explains what to put in each bin.
A calendar is also supplied with the booklet and is specific to each household. The calendar clearly shows the date to start presenting the new grey non-recycling bin, which bin to put out and when.
To help with the switch over of the recycling bins, residents are asked to make sure their green and blue bins are out for collection by 7am on their usual collection day. Once each bin has been emptied it will be stickered to show that it has been converted into a new recycling bin as detailed in the letters sent to householders.
Around 15,000 properties in Ross and Cromarty are also being provided with a new weekly food waste recycling service – this includes the following areas: Alness, Avoch, Conon Bridge, Culbokie, Evanton, Dingwall, Fortrose, Invergordon, Maryburgh, Muir of Ord, Munlochy, North Kessock, Rosemarkie and Strathpeffer. Silver food waste caddies and caddy liners are being delivered along with the new grey non-recyclable waste bins. All food waste can be recycled using the caddies, including cooked and uncooked food. The collections for food waste start on the same date as the grey non-recycling bin as shown on the calendars.
Households in receipt of the weekly food waste recycling service are being provided with a new 140 litre grey non-recyclable waste bin while all other households will be provided with a new 180 litre grey non-recyclable waste bin. All non-recyclable waste bin collections will remain on a fortnightly basis.
Councillor Graham Mackenzie, Chair of Communities and Place Committee, stated: “I am pleased to see the roll out of the new bins going smoothly and on schedule across Ross & Cromarty. Residents are urged to look out for their new bins arriving and to read the booklet and calendar that accompanies them. These have the important information you need to know about when your new collections starts and what to put in each bin."
He continued: “The Highland Council has made a commitment to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste sent for disposal and increase the amount re-used repaired and recycled.
“Helpful hints, tips and guidance on how to reduce food waste and useful information on all the recycling services provided by the Council are detailed in the booklet delivered with the new bins.
“Separating the recyclable material collected at the kerbside into two bins is called twin stream recycling and will improve the quality and quantity of recycling, reduce the costs associated with waste disposal, which in turn will help to maintain other vital services."
£6.55 million from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund has been awarded to The Highland Council to enhance waste and recycling collections for communities across the region.
The funding includes the provision of all the new non-recyclable waste bins to householders along with facilitating the expansion of the food waste collection service to another 30,000 households in the region, further enhancing the recycling services provided by the Council. Modifications to the Portree and Caithness Waste Transfer Stations to help support the changes to the recycling services is also included in the funding award from the Scottish Government.
The Council has also approved capital investment in waste infrastructure with the construction of a new Waste Transfer Station in Fort William, along with a communications and engagement package to support residents with the changes to the recycling services.
The changes to waste and recycling collections will be implemented in a phased approach across the Highland region starting with Ross and Cromarty in April. Future phases are detailed below:
Nairn – May 2024
Inverness May/June 2024
Badenoch & Strathspey – August 2024
Caithness – September 2024
Sutherland – October/November 2024
Skye & Lochalsh – February 2025
Lochaber – April/May 2025
Households are advised that the bins are being delivered according to the refuse and recycling collection routes, therefore not all properties within a town/area will have their bins delivered at the same time. More detailed information will be available for householders on the Council's website including the programme of bin deliveries. www.highland.gov.uk/binchanges
Community Engagement Sessions are being held in Libraries, Leisure Centres, supermarkets and shops providing more information on the changes to waste and recycling collections. The Waste Awareness team will be on hand to answer any questions.
New recycling bins for Highland Council Business Waste Customers in Ross and Cromarty will also be delivered over the next few weeks.
For more information and tips on how to reduce your waste please visit www.highland.gov.uk/recycle