Residents in the Wigtownshire area of Dumfries and Galloway can now recycle food waste every week as part of the council’s new kerbside recycling service.

Every household in Wigtownshire (except those with shared facilities) should now have received: an indoor kitchen caddy; a kerbside caddy; a free supply of liners; and a leaflet explaining the new service. They are being reminded to place food waste (except liquids and oils) into their food waste bins rather than in residual waste (as was done previously).

The new food waste collections started in the Wigtownshire area this week (25 August) and will be introduced across other parts of Dumfries and Galloway over the course of 2014 and 2015.

Residents living in properties with shared facilities should place food waste into the communal food waste bins that have been provided. The kerbside caddies will then be collected by 7.30am on the designated food waste collection day.

The council has said that it will supply new liner rolls to residents when necessary. To receive a new roll, residents should tie an unused liner to the handle of the kerbside caddy on their normal food waste collection day. Operatives will then place a new supply of liners inside the caddy after emptying it.

Recycling changes

First announced in 2012, the changes are part of a council-wide push to reintroduce kerbside recycling collections (paper collections were scrapped in 2008).

It will householders switch from a one-bin approach (of mixed recyclables and residual waste) to separate collections of recyclable material. It is hoped that the new service will enable the council to comply with the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which require non-rural councils to introduce a separate collection for recyclable materials and food waste.

Starting on 15 September in the Wigtownshire area, the new service will require householders to separate: paper and cardboard into a 44-litre black box with a lid; glass bottles, tins and cans and plastic bottles into a 55-litre black box with a net; and any overflow recyclable material into a third 44-litre black box. These boxes will be emptied every two weeks.

However, the council has said that it can provide ‘recycling bags or a trolley’ if residents feel that ‘the three recycling boxes are not suitable’ for their property.

The current residual waste collection service (either through a wheeled bin or refuse sack) will continue for household rubbish that cannot be recycled and will be collected every two weeks when the changes come into effect. It will continue to be treated at the Ecodeco biodrying plant.

Changes are a ‘step forward’

Commenting on the introduction of the new service, Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chairman of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Planning, Housing and Environment Committee, said: “The timetable for introducing new waste services comes on the back of Scottish and European legislation requirements which are aimed at reducing the amount of waste that we send to landfill. These changes are a step forward which will ultimately enhance the high-quality environment that we all enjoy in Dumfries and Galloway.

“The introduction of the new recycling containers does mark a significant change in how we separate our household waste, and there will undoubtedly be a period of adjustment for local residents to adapt to the new system. However, it’s encouraging to recognise that other local authorities across Scotland have similar recycling collection services in place which have been shown to be effective, well received and used by households.

“A comprehensive communication campaign will be delivered across the region to outline the forthcoming changes in detail, ensuring residents will have all the required information about the new waste and recycling collections before the changes are implemented. We will be urging all households in Dumfries and Galloway to engage with the new service.”

The introduction of the new waste services in Dumfries and Galloway is being supported with funding from the Scottish Government through Zero Waste Scotland.