Waste Awareness: the Environment

The Environment

It is now generally accepted that we must take action today to reduce our impact on the Earth in order to protect our environment for future generations. Waste is one area where small changes in our personal habits can make a lasting impact. Over the past few years, a lot of effort has been made to show us the many ways in which we can change our waste habits.

Recycling is the most high profile means of making sure waste does not go to landfill where it can pollute waterways and produce methane gas, a so-called “greenhouse gas". This website contains a wealth of information about the Council’s services which make recycling convenient and accessible.

However there are other ways of making an impact – we can reduce the amount of waste we create in the first place and we can reuse things instead of letting them become waste. The Waste Hierarchy explains why these actions are important, while our Waste Minimisation page suggests practical ways you can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Scotland has a National Waste Strategy based on the principle of sustainable development. That is to encourage more efficient use of resources, to minimise waste and to recover greater value from the waste that we do produce. The Council’s own Waste Strategy is based on the National Waste Plan adopted by the Scottish Government and takes account of European directives.

Evaluation of the SBC Waste Strategy (by way of statistical returns) is carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which has responsibility delegated by the Scottish Government.

Additional resources are provided by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG). It was set up in 2000, with the remit of changing public attitudes to domestic waste. Its aim is to deliver a national campaign called Waste Aware Scotland to raise awareness of, and change public attitudes and behaviour towards Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Want to learn more?

Community groups are invited to learn more about recycling in the Scottish Borders from the Council’s Recycling Team. To discuss your requirements, please contact the Recycling Team by email.

In the summer months the Recycling Team attends events – including the main agricultural shows - with a stand to promote Recycling and home composting. Come along and find out more.

Contact us

Telephone Helpline: 01835 825128
Email: The Recycling Team
By post: The Recycling Team, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA

Thank you for helping us get it sorted.

Other useful pages

• Services for householders
• Services for businesses and commercial operations
• Latest News
• How we are performing
• Waste Awareness