Isles residents respond positively to bins offer

Over 70% of householders in the isles have requested recycling bins under a new scheme to make recycling easier in the isles.

The Council agreed in October to provide two green wheelie bins per household in the North and South isles that could be used to store items for recycling – as well as being a secure place to keep bags of household waste.

Rousay householders in particular have shown particular interest in the offer, with 72% of households requesting their allocation of bins.

Almost all of the 14 households in Graemsay have asked for bins.

The green bins will be delivered to households in the coming weeks.

Although many of the isles already have recycling collection points, a programme of works to upgrade and increase their storage capacity is underway. Five of the isles have already had their storage capacity doubled - and this work will continue.

The Council will also explore ways to provide recycling facilities in Egilsay, Wyre and Graemsay, which currently do not have collection points.

Meanwhile, an alternate weekly collection will continue in Westray and Shapinsay, where it was trialled before being rolled out across the mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay.

Darren Richardson is the Council’s Head of Infrastructure: “We are pleased to see such a great take up for the extra bins scheme. We’ve responded to the residents feedback from our island consultation work in 2016. Residents raised the point that recycling would be easier if bags could be stored in bins, protecting them from vermin and the wind in between the weekly roadside collections. This is a positive step forward and much more cost effective than an alternate weekly collection which could not be delivered because of cost and each island having different logistical challenges to overcome.

“Similarly isle residents have sought improvements in the frequency of collections, the capacity at each site and where practicable the range of things that can be recycled, we hope the changes being made will improve our service further, clearly any improvement is a challenge in the current financial climate.

“We’ll be continuing to explore any further practical and cost-effective options there might be.”