Perth and Kinross is one of Scotlands top recyclers
Last updated | 17/10/2008
Perth & Kinross Council remains one of the best performing local authorities in Scotland for recycling, according to the latest SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) figures.
The Council has a recycling and composting rate of 40%, placing us as the 7th highest authority out of the 32 Scottish Local Authorities.
Earlier this month SEPA released its official recycling figures for Scottish Local Authorities for the period July 2007 to September 2007.
Environment Convener, Councillor Alan Grant, said: "These positive recycling figures are testament to the hard work being done by Perth and Kinross residents and the Council to cut the amount of waste going to landfill.
"However there is still much to do. Annual increases in population and the ‘throw away’ lifestyle of modern living, has led to more waste being produced in the area.
"Last year saw 107,424 tonnes of waste being produced compared to 103,047 tonnes in 2005/2006, an increase of more than 4%. So while every year sees more and more waste being recycled, the sheer increase in the overall volume of waste being disposed of counteracts the yearly increases in recycling.
"Perth & Kinross Council is continually looking at ways to provide more recycling facilities.
"For example, households in parts of Perth taking part in a new Kerbside Recycling Service achieved an impressive recycling rate 48% in the first year of the scheme. A steady stream of additional local Recycling Points throughout Perth and Kinross have been, and will continue to be introduced to allow easier access to these facilities.
"Improvement works to six of the area’s Recycling Centres are also being carried out at the moment to extend the number of materials that can be recycled at the centres including timber and scrap metal. New access ramps to containers at the Recycling Centres will be installed, and where required, improvements to informational signage and access roads will also be carried out.
"The Council hopes to roll out the fuller Kerbside Recycling Service to a further 40-45,000 households beginning in the early summer of this year, being completed within 18-20 months.
"We are also working closely with the commercial sector to assist them in managing their waste. Scores of businesses have been assisted to introduce successful waste minimisation initiatives over the last year, allowing them to reduce their bin capacity or frequency of uplifts. This has led to the businesses making financial savings.
"With the ever-increasing volumes of waste being produced by householders it is also important to think about reducing the waste we are throwing out in the first place. We all have a choice and responsibility with what we do with our waste and preventing it from being produced in the first place is the best option."
Some simple steps we can all take to reduce our waste include:
• The use of reusable material / cloth / cotton bags
• Signing up for ‘unwanted’ mail schemes
• Buying loose fruit and veg instead of the heavily pre-packaged options
• Buying vouchers or ‘days out’ for gifts instead of often heavily packaged presents
• Composting at home
• Donating useful items and clothing to reuse projects or charities.
"Doing any or all of the above will help to slow down the increase of waste going to landfill that has been seen over the past decade," added Councillor Grant.
