Wheelie Bin Roll Out begins in Skye and Lochalsh

Over the next few weeks residents in Skye and Lochalsh can expect to take delivery of a new blue wheelie bin for their recycling waste from The Highland Council. Householders should already have received an introductory leaflet outlining how the new service will operate and may even have had a visit from a member of the Council’s Waste Awareness Team.

The bins, which will be collected on a four-weekly rota beginning in February, can take paper, cardboard, tin cans and plastic bottles. Householders are being asked to flatten tins, plastic bottles and cardboard and to remove caps and rinse plastic bottles and cans although there is no need to remove the labels.

Chairman of TEC Services, Councillor John Laing said:  “Some people have expressed surprise that the items will be mixed in the same bin but this is because at the recycling plant they will be separated by a mixture of both mechanical and manual means. It is therefore very important that the items are loose and not placed in plastic bags or mixed together .  For example a tin can should not be jammed into a cardboard box.

“Our Waste Management Team will be publicising the new scheme over the next few weeks with posters going up across the area and adverts will be running on Cuillin FM early in the New Year. The Team are also planning a number of public events and will be visiting schools to talk to pupils about recycling.

“These new convenient collections from people’s homes should greatly reduce the number of visits that are needed to be made to Recycling Points and Centres, reducing car journeys and so further benefiting the environment.”

The bins will be delivered with a booklet containing full details on how to use the bin and a calendar showing collection dates. Normal weekly refuse collections will not be affected.

For more information about recycling in your area please telephone 01478 612728, visit http://www.highland.gov.uk/recycle.htm or email - recycle@highland.gov.uk.