The council plans to spend the grant on a number of sustainable waste management projects until 2006 that it hopes will boost its recycling and composting rate from 6.6% in 2002/03 to 29%.
Scottish environment minister Ross Finnie said: “This funding will help ensure many of West Dunbartonshire's citizens have access to recycling facilities.”
At the moment in West Dunbartonshire, a green sack kerbside service collects paper, cans, plastic containers and textiles. New kerbside schemes are now planned for 36,000 households in the area, with a brown bin collection for green waste and a blue bin collection for waste paper.
The grant also will be used by the council to expand its recycling centres by introducing a segregation system for both household organic and wood waste. In addition, West Dunbartonshire council has proposed a waste minimisation programme.
West Dunbartonshire is the 28th Scottish local authority to receive money from the Strategic Waste Fund, with just four councils in Scotland still to receive funding. A total of 17 million has been allocated from the fund for this and the next two years and a total of 495 million has been awarded to councils for the period up to 2020.
Mr Finnie said: “Our National Waste Plan, which we are backing with significant resources, is beginning to show a real difference on the ground. Every month, recycling becomes increasingly easier for Scots with new and improved kerbside facilities, recycling bins and other services being provided across the country.”
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