Triumphant claims for East Dunbartonshire recycling scheme

The Scottish council launched its new scheme, involving weekly recycling collections and fortnightly residual waste collections, to 12,000 homes some eight weeks ago.

” Change can be difficult to implement and, of course, I am aware that the new collection scheme has its detractors “
– Cllr John Morrison
Initial results comparing eight weeks before the scheme with eight weeks on the new scheme have suggested a 69% increase in recycling tonnages collected over all 395 streets taking part.

With glass, plastic bottles, paper, cans and now cardboard collected on the new scheme, the amount of waste being put into householders' grey residual bins has decreased by a third, the council said.

Overall, the scheme has so far helped raise East Dunbartonshire's recycling rate by seven percentage points compared to last year, to 32% in 2005/06.

East Dunbartonshire is now rolling the scheme out to a second phase, which will more than double the number of households on the service with 1260 streets added to the new arrangements.

Difficulties
Cllr John Morrison, leader of the council, said there had been some “teething problems” in the service in some parts. However, he said council officers had worked with residents to iron out the difficulties.

He said: “The benefits of cutting waste going to landfill and increasing recycling are obvious. Change can be difficult to implement and, of course, I am aware that the new collection scheme has its detractors and that in some areas there have been teething problems.

“The Environmental Team has been working with residents who have had difficulties with the new scheme and they will continue this as long as necessary. I would ask residents to please keep up the good work and thank them for making the new scheme such a success,” Cllr Morrison added.

The first phase roll out took place in two areas. In Bearsden and Milngavie the council reported an increase of 76% on the amount of material collected for recycling, with recycling tonnages growing from 136 tonnes in the eight weeks prior to the scheme, to 240 during the same period of time on the new scheme.

The second area, Bishopbriggs, Lenzie and Kirkintilloch, saw the amount of recycled material increasing from 134 to 216 tonnes, an increase of 61%.

East Dunbartonshire has been set a target by the Scottish Executive to recycle 30% of its waste by 2007.