Phased re-opening of Bossack continues with electrical waste and wrapped asbestos accepted from 18 May

The Council’s Bossack Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) will be accepting electrical waste and wrapped asbestos in addition to garden waste from next Tuesday (18 May).

The opening hours are unchanged - Tuesday to Friday from 9am-12am and 1pm-4pm (with last entry at 3.45pm).

It follows the site opening its gates to the public earlier this week (11 May) to accept garden waste, as part of a phased re-opening of the HWRC as resources and restrictions allow.

Unfortunately, it will still not be possible for users to collect treated garden waste (soil conditioner) at this stage, as that section of the site is needed for operational reasons to ensure COVID-19 restrictions are met.

Users of the site are reminded there are access controls in place on site to manage the number of vehicles at any one time, to ensure physical distancing for both staff and public – please be patient and follow all instructions.

Councillor Graham Sinclair is Chair of the Development and Infrastructure Committee: “We would really encourage residents in the East Mainland and nearby to think of Bossack as their first option for garden and electrical waste and only option, as was the case previously, for wrapped asbestos. It’s worth noting that current usage levels at Bossack means there is little to no waiting time to access the site.

“Not only will this help alleviate pressure at our Hatston HWRC, members of the public with large quantities of garden waste (IE trailers) can make use of a bay allowing trailers to discharge the waste directly to the ground instead of having to carry it into the skips, as at our other facilities.

“As ever, we thank the Orkney public for their patience and understanding as the Waste Team works to maintain and reopen services amid all the guidance and restrictions, and for their example keeping Orkney beautiful during what has been a challenging period for waste services and households.”

Each HWRC in Orkney is now open, with each accepting different materials as space for physical distancing and resources allows.

This leaves only leaves local Recycling Points (or ‘banks’) still closed, and household special collections on the Mainland suspended, due to driver availability. As efforts are made to enhance driver availability, the recovery of these services will be programmed in. It’s hoped the recycling banks in Kirkwall - at Tesco, Lidl, Papdale Stores and Hordaland – will soon be operational again.

With Bossack only open at this stage for electrical and garden waste and wrapped asbestos, residents with normal household waste and recycling to dispose of can visit two HWRCs - Garson Industrial Estate in Stromness or Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall - both are accepting a wide range of recycling.

In addition, recyclables and waste electricals (but no black bag waste) can be taken to HWRCs at St Margaret’s Hope and Cursiter Quarry in Firth.

Check what materials are currently accepted at each of the Council’s HWRCs on the Council website's Household Waste Recycling Centres page.