Borders’ recycling rates up threefold
Wednesday, August 2 2006
Recycling rates in the Borders have almost trebled since Scottish Borders Council introduced weekly kerbside recycling collections in May 2005.
Figures submitted by the Council to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) show that 20.82% per cent of waste was recycled in the first quarter of 2006, compared to 7.92% in the same quarter last year.
During January to March this year, 2,048 tonnes of paper and card, 140 tonnes of plastics and 53 tonnes of cans were sent for recycling – a total equivalent to the weight of 186 combine harvesters!.
“We are absolutely delighted to see these results and can’t thank the public enough for their willingness to recycle and help
us reduce landfill waste,” said Julie Rankine, Waste Strategy Manager.
Every household in the region can now recycle paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles each week. This means that waste which once would have gone to landfill is being processed and made into new products.
Scottish Borders Council now hopes to increase last year’s total recycling rate of 15.9% to 25% this year.
“Kerbside collections only started in Berwickshire in late March, so we expect the April-June figures to be even better, as the Berwickshire collections make a contribution,” Julie Rankine explained.
“We all need to look at what we are putting into our grey-lidded general waste bins and ask ourselves if it can be recycled. Every little bit counts, and sorting out material for the kerbside collections, or for the glass recycling points, can make such a difference to our environment.
“Our seasonal garden waste collections started in April and I would encourage urban householders to make the most of this service over the summer. In rural areas, residents can use the home composters which we gave them, to reduce garden waste.”
Councillor David Patterson, SBC Executive Spokesman for Technical Services, said, “I am delighted to see such a positive result from the introduction of kerbside recycling. I would like to thank the people in the Scottish Borders who have responded so enthusiastically to the services the Council has provided and encourage them to continue, so that we protect the place in which we live and work.”
Unified Solutions.