Waste strategy
As a nation, Scotland currently recycles around 34%
of the total waste produced. Perth and Kinross, for
2008/2009 achieved a recycling and composting rate of 38%.
National targets for landfill diversion are set at 25% by 2006, 40%
by 2010 and 75% by 2020. Around 80% of the contents of your
rubbish bin are can be reduced, reused, recycled or
composted. In 2008, the Scottish Government announced new
targets for Scotland in the vision of a 'Zero Waste
Scotland'. Information on these new targets and the propsed updated
Scotland wide plan can be found on the
Scottish Government's website.
The key concept in the National Waste Plan 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. Much of our waste is often a
valuable resource, especially if it has been separated so that it
can be recycled, refurbished or reprocessed.
On average a typical Perth and Kinross household produces around
a tonne of waste per year. By providing kerbside recycling bins
for dry recyclable material such as cans, cardboard, paper and
plastic bottles as well as for garden and food waste,
installing more locally sited recycling points, improving
access to information and promoting waste awareness and education,
Perth & Kinross Council hope to encourage householders and
communities to embrace waste minimisation and recycling into
their daily routine.
Keith McNamara, Head of Environmental and Consumer
services 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"
