Information Bulletin
27 May 2004
Shetland Given £1,177,000 Grant to Boost Recycling and Sustainable Waste Management
The Scottish Executive has granted Shetland Islands Council £1,177,000 for the financial years 2004 - 2006 to boost recycling and support sustainable waste management.
The grant is part of a strategic waste fund set up by the Scottish Executive to assist Scottish local authorities to improve on waste reduction and recycling. In total £230 million is being offered to Scottish authorities during the period 2003 - 2006. Shetland is set to received £1.2 Million over the next 2 years and then a further £4.7 Million over the period 2006 - 2020 to continue to develop its sustainable waste management programme.
Shetland's share of this Strategic Waste Fund money comes as a result of three years detailed work by the local Shetland Area Waste Group, a partnership of waste producers, Shetland Islands Council, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Shetland Amenity Trust.
The money will allow Shetland to expand its recycling facilities, including the introduction of a kerbside collection for glass and cans in Lerwick and Scalloway. It will also support an expansion to rural areas of the commercial glass recycling scheme, presently operated in Lerwick and the introduction of can recycling to rural areas. Glass processing will be continued and expanded via Enviroglass's base at Cunningsburgh.
Household recycling bins will be made available at a significantly reduced rate. The bins are intended for use in the kitchen to encourage the separation of waste at source. The aim is to make recycling as easy as possible for people.
The sale of subsidised home compost bins will continue following on from the success achieved last year.
A number of Council education and promotional campaigns have also been funded in order to raise people's awareness of waste and to offer support and advice as to the best means of sustainable handling wastes locally.
Councillor Jim Henry spokesperson for the Environment said
"The funding from the Scottish Executive is a marvelous boost for recycling in Shetland. The strategy has been to maximise the amount that is recycling without compromising the operation of the Waste to Energy Plant. The funding will keep Shetland at the forefront of waste management with the focus on developing schemes, to find local solutions and end uses for the recycled material.
Ends.