Bin manufacturer Taylor has seen its latest urban recycling bin line – the Mini Street – receive its ‘first mass UK order’ following the Western Isles Council’s decision to roll out the unit across all of its ‘major’ tourist areas.
The council has purchased 60 units, which have been located in ‘prominent public areas throughout the islands’, including ferry terminals, the new marina, and castle grounds.
Bins can withstand ‘harsh’ Western Isles weather
The council said that it purchased the bins to increase ‘on-the-go recycling levels’.
Iain Campbell, Zero Waste Western Isles Campaign Co-ordinator, said: “The units look so good that we’ve placed them at the entry and exit points to the islands so that they’re one of the first and last things that residents and visitors see. We would recommend Taylor’s Mini Street unit to any local authority as they look great, they’re easy to manoeuvre and they are robust!”
Campbell also said the council valued the housing unit for its ‘tapered top’, which ‘eliminates the risk of… waste being left on the top of the housing rather than placed inside’, and for its ‘locking design’, which ‘prevents children from getting their hands too far into the units, some of which contain glass’.
He added: “Due to the harsh nature of the weather on the west coast of Scotland combined with the salty air, we chose the Mini Street [as] it has a plastic finish, meaning the ferocity of nature’s wear and tear is not an issue.”
Unveiled for the first time last year, the Mini Street follows the same design as Taylor’s ‘Street Unit’ but comes in 240- and 360-litre sizes (rather than 1100- or 1280-litre sizes).
Julian Gaylor, Taylor’s Sales and Marketing Director, said: “The Mini Street has been designed to help facilitate the traditional container’s move from hidden bin rooms to a front of house feature and a key component within the urban environment. If local authorities are to increase their residents’ recycling levels they need to adopt solutions that stand out and better engage the public, something that we feel we have achieved with the Mini Street.”
Find out more about the Mini Street.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.