Waste management changes making a difference in Skye and Raasay
Change and investment in waste management is making a difference in Skye and Raasay.
Members of Highland Council’s Skye and Raasay Committee heard on Monday (30 June) about the impact of recent changes, which are viewed as essential to achieving a sustainable model of waste/recycling collection.
The roll-out of new bins to householders began on the 10th of February and was completed on 16th March 2025.
A report before the committee said an updated figure from all areas in the region showed the service change has achieved a reduction of approximately 7,500 tonnes of non-recycling waste collected from bins at the kerbside and sent for disposal in the last 12 months.
New twin stream recycling collections have also achieved a significant drop in contamination of the material collected in recycling bins.
This has resulted in an overall increase of 1000 tonnes in the output of recyclable material after it has been processed at the recycling facilities.
A range of improvements to the Council’s waste and recycling was supported by £7.1 million from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund.
Part of the changes include a new Portree waste transfer station, being constructed within the grounds of the current operational waste transfer site.
It is expected that the facility will be handed over to The Highland Council during mid-July 2025.
The new facility is being prepared specifically to receive, aggregate and dispatch recyclable materials to contracted processors.
Plastics, tubs, containers, steel and aluminium cans (circa 415 tonnes per annum) will be sent to Perth; while mixed paper, light card, and cardboard (circa 840 tonnes per annum) will be dispatched to Glasgow.
The fully enclosed facility will significantly enhance the quality of recyclable materials compared to the current on-site arrangements.
Chair of the Skye and Raasay Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “The objectives, ultimately, are to improve both the quantity and quality of recycling within our area, so it is pleasing to see progress made in this regard.”