Aberdeen trials commingled recycling collections

The kerbside sorting of recyclables in Aberdeen could be phased out as early as 2015, after the council announced it would trial commingled collections in parts of the city.

The trials began in flats and tenements areas in June this year but have now been extended to parts of Deeside, Queens Cross and Kingswell, with more regions to follow in the coming weeks.

Under the commingled system, all dry recyclables including glass are placed in one 240-lite container, instead of the 70-litre bag and box service which has seen glass and cans separated from cardboard and paper.

The system was proposed by the housing and environmental committee in May this year after it was claimed that commingling could treble kerbside capacity and reduce residual waste bin capacity on the citys streets (see letsrecycle.com story).

It followed an approved update to Aberdeens waste strategy up to 2025, which includes plans to develop an energy-from-waste plant and a materials recycling facility, the latter of which will be built in the Altens area and is scheduled to come online late 2016 (see letsrecycle.com story).

If proved to be successful, residents involved in the collection trials will adopt the commingled collections on a permanent basis rather than reverting back to the kerbside sort system. At present the whole of Aberdeen is scheduled to adopt the system by the end of 2015.

Clash

Asked whether the new system clashed with the drive towards separate collections under the revised Waste Framework Directive in Scotland, zero waste management sub-convener councillor Jean Morrison told letsrecycle.com that commingling represented the best option for Aberdeen.

She said: The approach that sees recyclables commingled with glass is going to be the best option for ourselves. We are going to have a materials recycling facility that is specifically designed to separate these materials.

We have good recycling rates in some areas but the big issue is 52% of properties in the city are tenements and getting recycling in these areas is much more difficult, they dont have the space for recycling boxes so they are putting everything in the general waste bin.

While the MRF is not due to become operational until 2016, the commingled recyclables will in the meantime be taken from the councils East Tullos waste transfer facility to UPMs Shotton MRF near Chester, where it will be separated and recycled.

Cllr Morrison added: Although its quite a distance we dont have the cost of making the time to separate the materials at the kerbside, and we have people who are having to lift the stuff so potential back injuries are avoided as well.