New reuse container at Brora Recycling Centre

Brora Recycling Centre now has a reuse container making it easier for residents in the area to pass on unwanted household goods rather than send them to landfill.

Householders are invited to bring items, including furniture, homeware and bicycles, to the container to help local people in need.  The facility will be run by New Start Highland, formerly known as HomeAid Caithness & Sutherland. All furniture donated in Caithness and Sutherland will continue to be provided to the north Highland community, helping people out of poverty and homelessness.

New Start Highland is an award-winning social enterprise which provides a range of community services throughout the Highlands. The organisation helps thousands of people a year and offers housing support services, and furniture re-use programmes as well as comprehensive employment training services.

The Highland Council is providing reuse containers at a growing number of its recycling centres both reducing landfill and helping to support local community organisations. New containers are also being installed at Tain and Portree Recycling Centres.

A grant from Zero Waste Scotland has secured funding for the new containers and it is anticipated that they will divert an additional total of 145 tonnes from the three sites over the next three years. This will save the Council over £20 000 in disposal costs and landfill taxes. The grant from Zero Waste Scotland has also funded new signage and improved storage racking for Alness Recycling Centre.

Donated items should be in good condition, although lightly damaged or scratched (but not broken) wooden furniture is acceptable; upholstered furniture must have a fire certificate attached; gas appliances are not accepted. 

For more information about the facilities available at Recycling Centres visit Rubbish and recycling pages of The Highland Council website: www.highland.gov.uk/recycle, email recycle@highland.gov.uk or phone 01349 886603.