Information Bulletin
New Lerwick Kerbside Recycling Scheme Launched on 12 May 2008
Shetland Islands Council has rolled out an extension to the fortnightly kerbside recycling scheme in Lerwick. Over the last four weeks, four sets of different coloured bags have been delivered to all the residents of Lerwick. This allows Lerwick residents to now put out for collection, newspapers in a clear bag and plastic bottles in a purple bag as well as cans and glass which are currently collected in blue and green bags.
To ensure that this service is delivered efficiently a new larger purpose built recycling vehicle (see photo attached) is being used which has six different containers on board to maximise the flexibility of collection and reduce the risk of cross contamination of recycled materials.
The extra collection of paper and plastic bottles has been trialled in Scalloway over the last twelve months and has proven to be a great success.
The plastic bottles and cans are baled and sent south for reprocessing, while the newspaper is shredded and offered to local crofters for animal bedding. Glass is crushed by Enviroglass in Cunningsburgh and has a number of uses including the making of coloured paving slabs.
This extra collection will improve our recycling rate from 20% to 25%. This increased recycling taken in conjunction with materials sent to the Energy Recovery Plant means Shetland will have one of the lowest rates in Scotland for disposing of waste to landfill. It is expected to be under 17%.
Residents outside Lerwick and Scalloway can bring their glass bottles and cans to their local collection point or alternatively they can deliver them to the Civic Amenity Site at the Gremista Landfill which offers facilities to recycle many different types of materials, for details please see our website at www.shetland.gov.uk/waste.
Environment spokesperson Councillor Jim Henry commented:
"Offering this additional kerbside recycling collection service shows the Council's commitment to our community to help make Shetland an ‘environmental centre of excellence’. The diversion rate from landfill is well ahead of most other authorities in Scotland. It will help the Council to recycle even more household waste and so reduce the use of landfill, so it’s good news for the environment".
Any residents who want to participate in this recycling service or have any queries about the new scheme can contact Waste Services on 01595 744800.
Pictures attached of the new vehicle and a close up showing left to right:
Ends.