Shapinsay residents urged to look out for wheelie bin letter

Shapinsay residents are being urged to keep an eye out in coming days for a letter from the Council explaining the roll out of wheelie bins to the island and what residents need to do.

Residents will receive a letter soon asking them to complete an online form confirming the number of wheelie bins they want the Council to deliver to their household.

If householders don’t respond, they will receive the standard allocation of wheelie bins in line with Mainland Orkney households – one grey bin for waste, and two green bins for recycling.

It's expected letters will arrive with households in coming days. Residents will have until 24 February at 5pm to reply with their needs. Wheelie bins will be delivered the week starting Monday 6 March and residents asked to use wheelie bins for collections starting from Wednesday 22 March.

The form also points residents to help and advice for specific problems they may have as wheelie bins are introduced.

The collection day in Shapinsay will remain unchanged (Wednesdays).

Hayley Green is Corporate Director for Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure: “We are keen to provide as many households as possible in our isles communities the same kerbside waste and recycling service that Mainland Orkney residents receive.

“Introducing wheelie bins in Shapinsay will also resolve the logistical and resourcing problems we had with processing their bagged recycling – we know many islanders were disappointed to hear late last year their recycling was not being captured, and this will eliminate that issue and will mean we can safely and efficiently collect and process recycling from Shapinsay and in future months from Westray too.”

Wheelie bins will also be introduced in Westray later this year, after the Council’s waste team have had opportunity to review the rollout in Shapinsay.

Shapinsay residents can access the online form here.

Frequently asked questions:

I don’t have space to store wheelie bins, or will struggle to wheel them the distance to the kerbside.

You can request to use Council-issued ‘red bags’ (for your refuse) and boxes/canvas bags (for your recycling) rather than wheelie bins.  Request this via our usual online request form – please don’t delay. You can also contact our Customer Service team on 01856 873535 or customerservice@orkney.gov.uk

You can still request a wheelie bin to store your refuse in - make sure you click '1' on the survey form to get a refuse bin delivered.

There is nobody in my household that is physically able to move wheelie bins and present them on the kerbside for collection. I will require an assisted collection for my waste and recycling.

You can ask for an assisted collection if you physically struggle putting out your waste and recycling. Request this via our usual online request form – please don’t delay. You can also contact our Customer Service team on 01856 873535 or customerservice@orkney.gov.uk

I've completed the survey - but I want to change something!

That's OK - call and ask to speak to Anna Gibb on Telephone 01856 873535 Extension 2321 or email Anna with your changes.