Trade waste policy helping clean up city centre

The introduction of a new trade waste policy on Inverness streets by The Highland Council is already making the city centre a cleaner, greener and safer place.

City centre businesses are being reminded that the full implementation date for the policy is the 9th April 2018.

Following approval by the City of Inverness Area Committee on 30th November 2017, the Council is in the middle of introducing the new trade waste policy for businesses within Inverness city centre. 

The key objectives of the policy are to:
• reduce the amount of trade waste containers on the streets and improve the look and feel of the city centre.
• reduce the amount of litter derived from trade waste.
• encourage businesses to manage their waste more responsibly and recycle more.
• reduce public safety issues by removing tripping hazards and bins blocking footways which can potentially have a detrimental impact on people with visual impairment.

The Highland Council Environmental Health team who are responsible for implementing the policy are extremely pleased with the response so far from businesses and waste contractors in adapting to the new policy requirements which come fully into force on the 9th April 2018.

Gregor MacCormick, Senior Environmental Health Officer said: “Our Service has worked closely with businesses, waste contractors and other relevant stakeholders in recent months in an effort to assist with the transition to the new policy requirements. 

"We appreciate the significant impact it has had on many businesses in adapting but are delighted by the response we have had to date with businesses having worked closely with their appointed waste contractors and ourselves to find solutions.

“Enforcement officers will now be working in the city centre in the coming weeks to ensure businesses manage all their waste in line with the new trade waste policy and the other waste legislative requirements. Our Service asks all those businesses that have yet to comply with the new policy to liaise with their appointed waste contractors and our officers at their earliest opportunity to ensure compliance ahead of the full implementation date.”

Provost and Leader of Inverness and Area Cllr Helen Carmichael added: “This project is all about helping to make Inverness a cleaner, greener and safer city which will encourage more visitors to the city centre and help create a positive image for the benefit of all. The results demonstrated so far with the removal of trade waste bins from our city centre streets speaks for itself with a pleasanter environment for all to enjoy.”

The full implementation date for the policy is the 9th April and all businesses are being asked to ensure they will be compliant with the new policy by this date. For further information on the trade waste policy please refer to the Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk/invernesscitytradewaste