More food waste liners for Inverness households

The Highland Council will deliver more compostable liners for the Inverness food waste collections next week. Participants in the collections will receive a further 3 rolls, left on top of their outside caddy. The supply of liners should last 9 months - allowing for a fresh liner every 3 days; households requiring more will need to buy their own additional liners.

It is very important that only properly compostable liners are used in bins and caddies. Householders are advised not to use ordinary plastic bags – even if they say they are bio-degradable – as this will result in their food waste bin being rejected. Bio-degradable bags are not the same as compostable bags. Compostable liners can be purchased for as little as £1 for 20 if you shop around for the best deal.

The new weekly collections, introduced at the end of September, have been very successful and have so far diverted well over 300 tonnes of food waste from landfill (where it contributes to climate changing methane emissions). They also mean that participants refuse bins are less full – and less smelly! Food waste collections will be extended to flatted properties in the Inverness area early next year.

Meanwhile the collections are being rolled out to schools and some other public buildings, care homes and larger food businesses in the Inverness area. This will enable them to comply with new Scottish Government waste regulations which come into force on 1st January 2014.
Participating households who do not receive their additional liners during the first week in December should contact the Council.

For advice on how to reduce your food waste go to http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ . Further information about the service is available by contacting The Waste Awareness Team on 01349 886603 or emailing recycle@highland.gov.uk or by visiting http://www.highland.gov.uk/recycle.htm.