Tain, Ullapool, Invergordon and Alness reaction to Highland Council waste revamp revealed
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THE rollout of a new waste and recycling collection service in parts of Ross-shire has seen an “overwhelmingly positive” response from househlders.
That’s the claim from a veteran Ross-shire councillor - despite grumbles from some on social media about the size of bins and uncertainty about what waste goes where.
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Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Graham Mackenzie, chair of communities and place committee, said: “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 said: “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 said: “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 and magazines, envelopes, paper, paperback books, shredded cards and wrapping paper, egg boxes and toilet roll tube, cereal and 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 dwww.highland.gov.uk/binchangeseliveries.
For more information and tips on how to reduce your waste please visit www.highland.gov.uk/recycle
How’s it paid for?
£6.55 million from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund has been awarded to Highland Council to enhance waste and recycling collections for communities across the region.
Around 15,000 properties in Ross and Cromarty are being provided with the 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
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 Councils website including the programme of bin deliveries. www.highland.gov.uk/binchanges
