New waste and recycling collections off to a good start in Ross & Cromarty
The new waste and recycling collection service has now started in some areas of Ross & Cromarty.
Councillor Graham Mackenzie, Chair of Communities and Place Committee, stated, “I am pleased to see the first collections of the new, non-recyclable waste bins starting last week in Ross & Cromarty including Tain, Ullapool, Invergordon and Alness. The Waste Aware team have been out in the community seeing how the new service is taking off and have reported back that it’s been an overwhelmingly positive response from residents putting out the correct bins on the correct collection day.”
He added “I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the public for this fantastic start to the new waste and recycling collections.”
He continued, “The first of the new recycling collections have also started this week, with feedback from the Waste Transfer Station staff, that the quality of the separated recyclable material collected from the blue and green bins from both households and business waste customers is looking very good. This really is encouraging at this early stage of the transition to the new recycling system and shows the effort and commitment from the public in helping to increase the amount of recycling and reduce waste sent for disposal.”
He continued, “The areas which have the weekly food waste collections have also seen a good response with the majority of food waste caddies being presented for collection with 6 tonnes of food waste being collected for recycling in the first week”.
Although the collections have started in some towns and villages in Ross-shire, the scheduled deliveries of the new bins are on-going for both households and businesses and will be completed within the next couple of weeks. To check when your new grey non-recyclable bin will be delivered please visit www.highland.gov.uk/binchanges
Residents can also check the letter they received in the post to see when their new, grey non-recyclable waste bin will arrive, and when their current green bin will be converted into a mixed plastic and metal containers recycling bin and when their blue bin will be converted into a paper and cardboard recycling bin.
A booklet titled “Your waste and recycling service is changing” is delivered with the new grey, non -recyclable waste bins and caddies. This booklet explains what is changing and how to use the recycling bins. The booklet also lists common items that cannot be put in the recycling bins. A new collection calendar is enclosed with the booklet and clearly shows the date to start presenting the new, grey non-recyclable waste bin and which bins to put out.
Zero Waste Scotland’s Recycling Improvement Fund Manager David Gunn said:
“It’s excellent to see the rollout of Highland Council’s new waste and recycling collection services going so well.
“Empowering the community to recycle more not only reduces the area’s impact on the planet, but also safeguards precious resources from being wasted.
“These are vital steps that help take Scotland forward on its transition to a sustainable and resilient circular economy fit for the future.”
All green bins will be converted into a mixed plastic and metal containers recycling bin for recycling plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, plastic and metal lids and tops, tins and cans, empty aerosols, clean aluminium trays, and metal and plastic sweet and biscuit tins. Once converted the green mixed plastic and metal recycling bin will be collected every four weeks.
Blue bins will be converted into a paper, card and carboard recycling bin. This is now for items such as newspapers & magazines, envelopes, paper, paperback books, shredded cards and wrapping paper, egg boxes and toilet roll tube, cereal & food sleeves and cardboard boxes. Once converted the blue recycling bin will be collected every four weeks.
Households in Alness, Avoch, Conon Bridge, Culbokie, Evanton, Dingwall, Fortrose, Invergordon, Maryburgh, Muir of Ord, Munlochy, North Kessock, Rosemarkie and Strathpeffer will receive, two new silver food waste caddies delivered. One large 23L caddy for outside use and a small indoor caddy. The caddy can take all cooked and uncooked food and is supplied with liners to put the food into before placing into the caddy. Food waste is collected weekly by a separate vehicle.
Business Waste customers will receive new clearly labelled recycling bins and will receive information and guidance on how to use the new recycling service. For enquiries please email business.waste@highland.gov.uk
Detailed information will be available for householders on the Councils website including the programme of bin deliveries. www.highland.gov.uk/binchanges
For more information and tips on how to reduce your waste please visit www.highland.gov.uk/recycle