Properties in the Grangemouth, Falkirk and Lower Braes areas are the last to switch to the new timetable.
The Scottish local authority became the first in the UK to move its green bin residual waste collections to a three weekly service in May 2014, when it switched from a fortnightly scheme for 18,000 homes in parts of Airth, Letham, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Torwood, Boness, Carron and Carronshore.
The authority then rolled out the system to an additional 22,000 properties in the Banknock, Bonnybridge, Denny and Lionthorn districts in the autumn.
Service
Food waste continues to be collected on a weekly basis, with dry recycling, textiles and garden waste collected fortnightly.
Councillor Dr Craig Martin, spokesperson for the Environment said: “The new service has been a success thanks to the support of residents who have made the effort to recycle more every week, particularly food waste.
“The increase in recycling means a reduction in the amount we pay in landfill charges and this is a saving we can use elsewhere. Last year we spent £2.5m sending material to landfill, much of which could have been recycled.
“We have a team of advisers who can help explain the changes as well as a series of road shows across the area where you can ask questions directly. We’re confident that this final round of changes will be as successful as the first two and look forward to the support shown by our communities.”
Target
Scotland’s local authorities have been set a target to recycle 60% of waste by 2020, rising to 70% by 2025. Falkirk achieved a recycling rate of 53% in 2013.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com in October, Falkirk council official Robin Baird said that the switch to a new service for residual waste, dubbed the ‘sustainable waste collection service’ could yield a recycling rate as high as 60% (see letsrecycle.com).
The council claims that the move has seen requests for additional recycling containers rise during the April to October period with an approximate 300% increase in food caddy requests on the same period in 2013. Requests for black boxes doubled and larger blue bin requests also rose by over 500% the council claimed.
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