New Kerbside Recycling Collections for Rural Badenoch and Strathspey

The Highland Council is introducing kerbside recycling to 500 of some of the remotest properties in Badenoch and Strathspey.

A review of refuse vehicle usage has identified the capacity to deliver a blue wheelie bin recycling service to residents who do not currently have a blue box and brown bin service for their recycling. The bin, which will be collected every 4 weeks, is for mixed recyclable material – paper, cardboard, food and drink cans and plastic bottles.

Starting on Friday 4 December will be new North and South rural routes.  The North route will cover the top of Nethy Bridge, Advie, Tormore and households along the B9102 and the A939 including, Lochindorb, Foragan and Slochd. The new South rural route will include collections from Kinlochlaggan, Glentruim, Garva, Tulloch and the Tulloch Moor area.

Householders on the new routes should look for the booklet delivered with thir  bin bins describing how the new collection system will work. The Council’s Waste Awareness team will also be in the area talking to residents on doorsteps, and where possible going into schools to talk to pupils.

This new service now means almost all residents in Badenoch and Strathspey are able to recycle a wide range of materials fromtheir doorsteps.

Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee, Councillor John Laing said:  “The extended recycling provision will be a big bonus to householders and will help to cut down the number of trips that need to be made to Recycling Centres and Points. Thanks to the efforts of people across the whole Highlands our recycling rate is currently around 34%, and it is expected that this new scheme will help drive this figure towards a new high.

“However, it is equally important that efforts are still made to reduce the amount of waste we create in the first place, especially as the festive period approaches.  Every opportunity should be taken to reuse anything we have no further use for. The existing network of charity shops throughout Highland is an ideal route to ensure someone benefits from the things we no longer need. Composting at home is another excellent way to reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill – and compost bins are available to householders at heavily subsidised rates, including free delivery.”

The New Kerbside Collection will be provided as an additional service to the areas not presently receiving recycling collections and normal weekly refuse collections will not be affected.

The blue box scheme already currently operating in most of Badenoch and Strathspey will remain unaffected.

24 Nov 2009