People in Caithness encouraged to be green on the move
New recycling bins, funded by Zero Waste Scotland, are now available for residents and visitors to Caithness to use when they are away from the home.
The bins, which have been recently installed in Thurso and Wick town centres are making it easier to recycle on the go, turning the problem of litter into a usable resource for Scotland.
The bins make it possible to recycle paper, cans, plastic bottles and card.
The Caithness Civic Leader, Councillor Gail Ross met up with Kenny Gow, the Waste Management Officer based in Wick to see the new bins in situ.
She said: "Litter can be a nuisance from time to time and many people say to me that we need more bins. I'm delighted that the council have responded to this with these joint landfill/recycling bins in the town centre.
“The problem can be particularly bad after a Friday and Saturday night with take away boxes so hopefully this will encourage people to put their rubbish in the bin.
There is also a problem in the car park at the riverside. Perhaps some people need to start to take a bit more pride in their town and keep their litter until they find a bin, not drop it on the ground. There really is no excuse for this at any time of the year but in tourist season it looks especially bad. The bins are here, you can't miss them so please use them."
The new bins join current recycle on the go facilities in Rose Street Car Park, Inverness, which since their installation a year ago have seen 3,500 cans and 1,250 plastic bottles diverted from landfill.
It’s already possible to recycle a wide range of materials at the kerbside or at one of 21 Recycling Centres or over 200 Recycling Points across the area, however these new bins mean that more can be collected for recycling when away from the home.
Zero Waste Scotland – Scotland’s programme to help individuals, businesses, and local authorities reduce waste, recycle more, and use resources sustainably – and the Scottish Government are urging people in the Highlands to make use of the new bins when out and about.
Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We must stop thinking of used materials, like empty bottles and drinks cans, as waste. There’s real value in the goods we throw away, and the small effort it takes to separate waste for recycling can contribute to economic growth for Scotland.
“These new recycling bins are making it easier to recycle on the go, and we are urging people across the Highlands to make use of these new facilities.”
Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee, Councillor Graham Phillips said: “We are delighted that Zero Waste Scotland has provided us with funding to invest in the new public recycling bins. People are used to recycling at home, and want to be able to do it when they are out and about.
"The Highlands are leading the way on recycling so it is great to have an opportunity to build on this eagerness to make a difference. It's also worth remembering that everything we recycle cuts our Landfill Tax bill, so let's all use these bins and save money!”
If you would like any further information on recycling, you can contact us on - 01349 886603 or recycle@highland.gov.uk