Waste and Cleansing Services News Archive
Tidy Business Standards 2009/2010 
Sixty-five businesses from all over Shetland successfully achieved a Tidy Business Standard award this year in recognition of their contributions to waste minimisation and greening the local environment.
For more information on the Tidy Business Standards programme and a full list of 2009/10 recipients, click here. Any business interested in applying for an award is very welcome to contact Environmental Services on 01595 744850.
"Nappuccino" Coffee Afternoon in the Town Hall
1pm-3pm Friday 30th April
Come along to our coffee afternoon at the Town Hall, Waste Prevention Officers will be available to answer your questions on real nappies and the money back incentive scheme as well as providing information on Real Nappy Week competitions. A local real nappy agent will also be on hand with a range of different nappy samples. Refreshments and cakes/biscuits will be provided along with a play area for children.
If you cannot make it to the event on Friday the 30th of April there will be information points at your local Health Centre and the Maternity Unit at the Hospital. If you would like to find out more about the Shetland Real Nappy Network and real nappy use in Shetland, please click here.
European Week for Waste Reduction
The European Week for Waste Reduction ran from the 21st to the 29th of November 2009, this focused on highlighting waste reduction activities across Europe and raising awareness of the Waste Hierarchy.
The Shetland Islands Council supported the European Week for Waste Reduction with two events run by the Environment and Resource Management Unit-
- Shetland Islands Council return to Cupboard day on Friday 27th November, where SIC employees were asked to check their desks for stationery and equipment that could be returned to the stationery cupboard.
- Christmas, No Time to Waste! information stall on Saturday 28th November, which had information on how to reduce waste this Christmas.
The Environment and Resource Management Unit would like to thank everybody who took part in our European Week for Waste Reduction events and helped make them a success.
Textile Recycling Banks
Shetland Islands Council, in partnership with Disability Shetland and Nathan’s Wastesavers have installed six new textile recycling banks across Shetland. These are located at:
Gremista Waste Management Facility & Recycling Centre, Lerwick
Old School Recycling Site, Nesting
Ulsta Ferry Terminal, Yell
Skibhoull Stores, Unst
Shoard Charity Shop, Whalsay
Aald Skule Recycling Centre, Aith
The banks are intended for old or damaged clothes or household textiles, or for clothing items with an emotional value which you would not wish to put to a charity shop locally. Clothes and textiles in good condition should go to charity shops.
European Week for Waste Reduction
The European Week for Waste Reduction runs from the 21st to the 29th of November this year, this focuses on highlighting waste reduction activities across Europe and raising awareness of the Waste Hierarchy.
The Shetland Islands Council is supporting European Week for Waste Reduction from the 21st to the 29th of November with two events run by the Environment and Resource Management Unit-
Friday 27th November- Shetland Islands Council Return to Cupboard Day
On Friday the 27th November the Shetland Islands Council will be holding a “Return to Cupboard Day" where all employees will be asked to check their desks for stationery and equipment that could be returned to the stationery cupboard.
This will help improve resource use in council buildings and reduce the quantity of new stationery items purchased.
Staff will also be encouraged to unsubscribe from unwanted mailing lists, register for electronic copies of publications and reduce their paper use.
Saturday 28th November- Christmas, No Time to Waste!
Consumer purchasing increases in the lead up to Christmas, which leads to an increase in waste production. The Environment and Resource Management Unit will be providing a "Christmas, No Time to Waste!" information stall on how to reduce waste this Christmas, which could save you money at the same time. This event will be held in the-
Toll Clock Shopping Centre from 11:30am-4:30pm on Saturday 28th November
Topics covered by the "Christmas, No Time to Waste!" stall include:
- Food Waste- The average Scottish household throws away £430 of food waste every year! To help you reduce this waste we will be providing information on portioning, recipes for leftovers, buying seasonal and local products, storage and information on “use by” and “best before” dates.
- Composting- including information and advice on composting as well as information on where to purchase subsidised compost bins.
- Shop Wisely to Reduce Waste- includes promoting use of reusable shopping bags, reusable vs. disposable plates etc and being aware of packaging waste and how to reduce this.
- Waste Aware Gifts and Wrapping- gifts which produce less waste, recycled content, waste aware wrapping and bow making etc.
- Don't Throw it All Away!- instead of throwing away old items use charity shops and auction sites.
Scotland's Zero Waste Plan
The Scottish Government has adopted a Zero Waste goal. Zero Waste does not mean that waste disappears. Instead, it means eliminating the unnecessary use of raw materials; sustainable design; resource efficiency and waste prevention; re-using products where possible; and recovering value from products when they reach the end of their lives either through recycling, composting or energy recovery, in accordance with the waste hierarchy.
The consultation period for Scotland's Zero Waste Plan ended on the 13th of November 2009.
Environment and Resource Management Unit Out and About
The Environment and Resource Management Unit staff will be provided information at a variety of events throughout the summer detailed below:
Saturday 29th August- Unst Show, Haroldswick Hall
Saturday 5th September- Yell Show, East Yell Hall
Tuesday 8th September- SIC Staff Health and Well being, Sound Hall 5-9pm
Friday 12th September- Children and Families Days:-
Brae Community Centre 9.30-11.30am
Scalloway Youth Club 1.00-3.00pm
Sandwick 3.30-5.30pm
Saturday 13th September - Children and Families Days, Clickimin Centre 10.30am-4.30pm
Saturday 19th to Sunday 20th September - Rotary, Clickimin Centre
Thursday 1st October - Careers Convention, Clickimin Centre 6.30-9.00pm
Wheelie Bin Trial
From the 15th to the 25th of June Cleansing Services will be conducting a wheelie bin vehicle trial in Lerwick and Scalloway, the trial areas are Commercial Street, Main Street and Goodlad Crescent. Please note this is only a trial and wheelie bin collection is not being introduced at this time. Any questions then please contact us.
Seaside Awards 2009
Four of Shetland's stunning beaches have been awarded Rural Category Seaside Awards, which are given to effectively managed beaches which meet 15 criteria including cleanliness, environmental management and water quality. The award winning beaches are St Ninians Isle, West Voe Sands, The Sands of Breckon and Tresta Sands. For further information about the awards and the beaches click here.
Green Day 2009 Environment Fair
On the 9th and 10th of May the Environment and Resource Management Unit held an environment and gardening event in the Clickimin Centre. This was a showcase for the Shetland environment, from gardening, through “green living”, to exploring the wilderness on our doorsteps.
Staff from ERMU were on hand to provide advice and were selling subsidised compost bins. If you missed Green Day and would like information about the range of subsidised bins available then click here.
Composting Workshops
From February to April The Environment and Resource Management Unit ran Composting Workshops throughout Shetland as part of the Master Composter Programme. We would like to thank everyone who came along to support our events and make the programme a success.For further information about the Master Composter Programme in Shetland click here.
Real Nappy Week 2009
The Environment and Resource Management Unit joined in Real Nappy Week by holding an information stall and Nappicino coffee afternoon. We would like to thank everyone who attended our events.
For further information about real nappies in Shetland click here.
Tidy Business Scheme Awards Ceremony
The Tidy Business Standards (TBS) is an annual award scheme, run by Keep Scotland Beautiful. It raises the awareness of businesses to the way that they collect, manage, store and dispose of their waste.
This year 56 Shetland businesses received awards at a ceremony in the Town Hall.
For further information on the Tidy Business Standards click here.