Waste and Recycling
This section contains a wealth of information relating to the collection, recycling and disposal of commercial and household waste in Orkney. You can also find information on Waste plans and how to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle your household waste.
The material you throw away costs money to dispose of (approximately £150.00 per tonne) as we have to ship the general residual waste to Shetland for incineration. By reducing what you throw away in the first place or recycling these materials instead, not only do you contribute to the sustainability of our environment, but you also make a very valuable contribution to us as a council in saving money that can be re-invested in other key services.
- Assisted / Additional / Alternative collections
- New or replacement bin or isles bags
- Report a Missed Bin
- Special Refuse Collections - Households
- When is my waste or recycling due?
- Windy weather – bin clips and other advice
- Your Household Collection Service - Mainland
- Your Household Collection Service - Isles
Orkney's Waste Transfer Site - where all your waste and recycling goes
All waste and recycling from households and businesses including materials collected from Orkney's Household Waste Recycling Centre network is delivered to Chinglebraes (Orkney’s Waste Transfer Site).
Some waste continues to be landfilled at Bossack – but this is a small inert landfill site only. Waste and recyclates are baled and containerised. Recycling is shipped to a range of different re-processors on the Scottish Mainland and in England. All waste that cannot be recycled is shipped to Shetland Islands Council’s EFW Plant (Energy from Waste). The waste at the Gremista facility is incinerated and powers a district heating scheme in Lerwick.
