News / Learn more about isles’ new recycling scheme
A SERIES of public sessions are taking place this week to give people more information on how Shetland’s new recycling scheme will work in practice.
The scheme – which has been introduced as a result of Scottish Government recycling targets – will initially be launched for 450 homes in Brae and Muckle Roe in March before extending to the whole of Shetland from July.
As part of Recycle Week 2017, three information sessions will be held to give the public more information on how the process will work.
All events will take place between 12pm and 6pm, with the first set for the Brae Co-op today (26 September).
Another session will take place at the Lerwick Co-op on Thursday, while it will also visit Tesco on Saturday.
Concerns, however, have already been raised by some members of the public – with some questioning how wheelie bins will cope with Shetland’s winter gales.
Householders’ blue-lidded bins will be used for paper and cardboard, while a grey-lidded one will take cans, plastics and cartons.
They will be collected on alternating fortnights, with non-recyclable waste due to be collected in the weeks in between before being burnt in the Energy Recovery Plant in Lerwick.
Materials that will be recycled will be sorted at a new material recovery facility due to be built in Gremista in Lerwick, before it is shipped south.
Environment and transport committee chairman Ryan Thomson said: “Our kerbside collections will begin next year as part of the national strategy to achieve a 70 per cent recycling rate across Scotland.
“Shetland’s recycling rates have been historically low and introducing this new kerbside recycling service marks an important step forward for the council’s waste management strategy.
“We will work closely with local communities to make the new service a success and to make our contribution to the national targets.”
Local waste prevention officer Brydon Sinclair added: “We will be on hand to answer any questions and to explain how the new kerbside collection service will operate throughout the islands from next year.
“In time, we will be providing information to every household with more detail on how this service will work.”
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