Aberdeenshire Council’s polystyrene service has now been expanded to include nine total sites, following the success of the local authority’s pilot service at three Household Recycling Centres (HRCs).
Bins designated for polystyrene have been installed at each facility, Aberdeenshire Council announced last week, with partner Styropack also hosting a collection point outside their Craigshaw Road depot in Aberdeen’s West Tullos Industrial Estate.
In February 2020, the council signed a contract with Styropack for a pilot programme of polystyrene recycling, which was introduced on a trial basis in Banchory, Portlethen and Stonehaven.
By November 2021, 6,802 tonnes of polystyrene had been collected since the start of the pilot, leading the council to extend the service to HRCs in Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Ellon, Inverurie, Westhill and Alford.
The HRCs currently accept Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), including all polystyrene packing materials such as shape-moulded packaging, blocks and planks of fill materials, packing boxes and packaging balls.
Aberdeenshire Council has stated that it will not accept any polystyrene containers contaminated with food, takeaway packaging, biodegradable or compostable packing chips, or Styrofoam cups. Residents are also advised to break up any large pieces of polystyrene before visiting a recycling centre.
Ros Baxter, Aberdeenshire Council’s Waste Manager, said: “We are delighted with the success of the polystyrene recycling programme so far. The volume of material brought to HRCs demonstrates a clear need for polystyrene recycling in Aberdeenshire, and we are pleased to be expanding this service into more locations.”
Cllr Peter Argyle, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “The polystyrene recycling pilot has achieved remarkable success over the past two years, despite the limitations that Covid-19 presented. The expansion of this service into more sites is a positive step towards improving the council’s recycling rate and further diverting waste from landfill.”
Cllr John Cox, Vice-Chair of the Infrastructure Services Committee, added: “We are pleased to be meeting the demands of the public by offering polystyrene recycling in more locations across Aberdeenshire. As such, we are anticipating positive results will come from the growth of this service.”
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