Published: Wednesday, 25th September 2019
With Recycle Week now underway, we are encouraging the public to get involved and put the right waste in the right bin as part of its Millions of Reasons to Recycle campaign.
The local initiative aims to highlight the environmental and financial need to recycle, and what can and cannot be recycled.
Millions of Reasons to Recycle
Borderers’ recycling efforts help save £2million every year, but with 70% of the waste in grey general waste bins being recyclable materials, an extra £1.1million could be saved and spend elsewhere on public services.
Digital materials to guide households on what items can be recycled are now available on the Millions of Reasons website with more information on Recycle Week available at Zero Waste Scotland’s social media channels.
New Waste Transfer Station means end of landfilling in Scottish Borders
The campaign coincides with the opening of the new Waste Transfer Station, with Councillors visiting the site for the first time this month.
The introduction of the new Waste Transfer Station is expected to lead to an improved recycling rate – with residual waste now being treated by Levenseat Limited in West Lothian rather than dumped on a landfill site to sit for hundreds of years and create harmful greenhouse gases.
The majority of the materials collected by Levenseat will be used to produce a refuse derived fuel - to generate heat and electricity – as well as recover materials which can be recycled.
The closure of the landfill site will also reduce the issue of odour in the local area, with the new Waste Transfer Station including rapid shut doors and air handling system.
Councillor Gordon Edgar, Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure
“Recycle Week is a great opportunity for households to play their part and think about their recycling behaviour.
“We know it can be confusing at times working out what can and cannot be recycled, which the Millions of Reasons to Recycle campaign aims to clarify with easy to understand guidance which has previously been provided to all households as part of the SBConnect newspaper, and is now available online to download.
“The campaign has also seen the launch of the Zero Waste School Champions project which we hope will see pupils at 19 schools help their families to recycle more, while a social media and radio advertising campaign is underway to provide further tips and advice.
“Alongside the Millions of Reasons to Recycle campaign, the opening of the Waste Transfer Station means the Borders is now landfill-free area well ahead of the ban which has now been extended to 2025.
“The closure of the landfill site and the improved recycling rates provided by the Waste Transfer Station will provide real assistance to our local environment.
“Please get involved in Recycle Week and the Millions of Reasons to Recycle campaign – the more we recycle, the more our communities benefit.”
Further information
- Images are available at our Flickr page.
- More information on recycling services is available.
- Information on the Zero Waste School Champions project is available.
- More details on Zero Waste Scotland’s Recycling Week is available.