Kerbside recycling scheme expanded
Monday, February 11 2008
Scottish Borders Council has expanded its popular kerbside recycling service.
New materials have been added to the list of items that can be put out for collection in clear household recycling bags and green commercial recycling bags.
Aerosol cans, paper-based liquid food/drinks cartons (including those made by Tetra Pak), plastic bags, plastic film and wrappers and clear plastic food trays can now be put in the recycling bags. Any type of plastic bottle can also be included. Black plastic bags, however, are not acceptable.
“This is a major expansion of the scheme and very welcome news,” said Councillor Len Wyse, Executive Member for Environmental Services. “I hope everyone will take the opportunity to add to the amount they are recycling by including these new materials in their ‘green’ routine.
“Householders have been telling us how much they want to be able to recycle more things, so we are delighted to be able to accept even more materials in the kerbside collections.”
The new materials that can be recycled are in addition to those listed on the bags. All of the materials should be clean and empty and lids should be removed from aerosols.
All households will receive a leaflet this month, with details about acceptable materials and tips for reducing waste.
Julie Rankine, the Council’s Waste Strategy Manager, added: “We hope that householders will continue to support our efforts to divert waste away from landfill. We have been doing very well with our recycling rate and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for helping to make it such a success.”
The expansion of the scheme coincides with figures that show the recycling rate in the Borders has increased. The figure for July to September 2007 was just over 37 per cent, up from 30 per cent in the same quarter in 2006.
New targets set by the Scottish Government mean that the Council must aim to achieve a recycling rate of 60 per cent by 2020 and 70 per cent by 2025.
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