Households across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are doing their bit to help save money, protect services and support climate-friendly measures by recycling, but recent studies by Zero Waste Scotland show we could all still do a bit more.
Waste Composition Analyses in Islay and Oban show that 10% of what we put in our general green bins were paper, card, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, and cans – things that could have gone into our blue recycling bin.
The analyses showed that 20% of what was found in the blue bins sampled should not have been there. This included soft plastic film, glass, textiles and materials that were contaminated with food.
This is broadly similar to Scottish national findings.
Just over 50% of materials found in the green bins could have potentially been recycled if the council was in a position to offer additional kerbside collections for food or garden waste.
At present there is an exemption within the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 on collecting food waste in areas with a population of under 10,000. All major settlements in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, other than Helensburgh, currently sit below this level. In 2021, costs to provide food recycling right across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, factoring in disposal, collection and provision of food caddies, were just under £2million, which was unaffordable.
Food waste currently makes up over 20% of the contents of general waste bins, although this could be cut through reducing the amount of food waste produced or by home composting.
There are just under 100 local recycling sites across the council area that give residents the opportunity to do their own recycling of glass bottles and jars etc. A number of supermarkets now accept for recycling.
Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Road, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “I’d like to thank our households and communities for everything they do. Every item we keep out of the waste stream, and send for recycling, saves valuable natural and financial resources now and in the long-term.
“What the analyses from Zero Waste Scotland have highlighted is that we need to get better at putting the right things into our recycling bins. If we can crack that, it’s another easy step on our recycling journey. The council’s website has plenty of information what to put in your blue bin and other ways of recycling effectively in your local area.â€
More information on how to recycle where you live.
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