Waste Strategy
Last updated | 28/04/2008
Currently Scotland as a nation recycles around 24% of our waste. Perth and Kinross currently has a recycling and composting rate of 33%.
National targets for landfill diversion are set at 25% by 2006, 50% by 2010 and 76% by 2020. Around 80% of the contents of your rubbish bin are recyclable.
The key concept in the waste strategy (PDF - 173kb) is the move away from the landfilling waste which is recognised as contributing to the greenhouse effect and land degradation towards more waste minimisation and recycling. Waste is actually a valuable resource but only if it has been separated so that it can be recycled, refurbished or reprocessed and therefore reducing the need for landfill.
On average a typical Perth and Kinross Household produces around a tonne of waste per year. By providing kerbside recycling bins for green waste and paper, more locally sited recycling points, improving access to information and promoting waste awareness and education, Perth and Kinross Council hope to encourage householders and communities to embrace waste minimisation and recycling into their daily routine.
Please use the links to access the full copies of the National Waste Plan and the Tayside Area Waste Plan. Tayside Waste Strategy (PDF - 341kb)
Summary of the Tayside Waste Strategy (PDF - 173kb)
National Waste Strategy (PDF - 1MB)
National Waste Strategy EASY READ version (online)
Keith McNamara, Waste Services Managers says:
"Waste Services has a direct involvement with virtually every person and household in Perth & Kinross. For example, our weekly refuse collection service means that we uplift over 3 million bins each year from virtually every house in the area, and our street sweeping teams ensure the cleanliness of hundreds of miles of roads and streets that we walk or drive on, each day.
This is an exciting time for waste management, with new national initiatives to reduce and divert the growing mountain of waste being sent to landfill. With help from the Scottish Executive, we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to reduce, reuse and recycle the things we would normally throw away.
Perth and Kinross Council alongside Angus and Dundee City Councils are working in conjunction to improve waste management practices across Tayside. Changes in Waste Management legislation at European and National levels and subsequently the development of the Tayside Waste Strategy ensures that there will be a significant change in the way that we dispose of our waste over the next fifteen years.
For years the people of Perth & Kinross have shown that this is important to them, and we have consistently topped Scottish leagues for recycling performance. To keep our area at the forefront of environmental performance in Scotland, we are asking people to contribute a small amount of their time to assist with these initiatives"
