Dundee City Council’s Environment Committee is to meet next Monday (21 April) to consider switching to alternate weekly collections (AWC) of residual waste, introducing weekly food waste collections, and implementing new plastic, glass and can recycling collections.

According to the council, out of all 32 local authorities in Scotland, Dundee is one of only five local authorities that still operate a weekly residual waste collection. Indeed, the top 10 performing recycling authorities all operate fortnightly collections, so it is thought that switching to an AWC system, whilst improving and extending recycling collections, will ‘provide a significant improvement on current services’.

The Environment Committee will consider rolling out new food waste collections to householders, and expanding plastic, glass, and metal can recycling collections to more properties. These will support the current paper/cardboard and garden waste collection services.

Larger bins would also be introduced to the 16,000 householders that can currently recycle cans, plastics, and glass.

The plans have been proposed following ‘successful’ trials of food waste collections and larger recycling bins, and aim to ‘nearly double’ Dundee’s recycling rate (currently at around 32 per cent) thus meeting Scotland’s 60 per cent recycling target by 2020, and complying with the country’s new waste regulations.

These new rules require all councils local authorities to offer a food waste recycling service in non-rural areas from 1 January 2016, and provide a ‘basic’ separate collection service for dry recyclables such as paper and card, plastic, metal cans, and glass.

Phased implementation to begin ‘later’ this year

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Councillor Craig Melville, Environment Convener at Dundee City Council, said: “We cannot hope to meet challenging national targets for recycling under the current system.

“Our recycling rate stands at just under 32 per cent and we have to get that to 60 per cent in just over five years’ time.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for the whole city and this is why we have taken time to examine a number of options thoroughly for houses, flats and multi-storeys…

“There would also be improvements to local recycling facilities to help them play their part.”

He added that the council will be looking to put a ‘phased implementation plan’ into place to help local residents adjust to the change.

This will see the project implemented in six phases, with the initial phase of approximately 12,000 properties introduced ‘later in 2014’. The other phases will follow during an approximate two-year implementation programme to complete city-wide coverage.

Overall capital costs for the proposed system are detailed at £1.4 million, with £350,000 a year in additional revenue costs.

Melville added: “I take the city’s recycling responsibilities very seriously and hope people will appreciate why we are proposing these changes.

“There will be a cost to implement these plans as they are an investment for the future, not a way to find savings.

“I have said before that I am determined to ensure that the correct choices are made for Dundee. These proposals represent a sensible way forward.”

Read more about the food waste collection trials in Dundee.