Councillors give backing to new recycling measures
An array of new recycling policies have been rubber-stamped by councillors as the SIC looks to boost its efforts and reduce waste.
Four extensive policies were agreed at a meeting of the environment and transport committee on Thursday, tied in with kerbside recycling collections for every household in Shetland.
It comes on the back of information events held across the isles over the last couple of months explaining how the new recycling scheme will work.
Council staff have been involved in drop-in sessions from Unst to Dunrossness with councillors this week applauding staff for their work in the build-up to the roll-out.
Recently the council announced that wheelie bins and information packs would be issued to homes throughout Shetland, as well as a customised collection calendar for each area and a recycling leaflet.
In the next three months bins are being given out, at least two weeks before collections begin.
Each home will have a bin with a blue lid for paper, card and cardboard and a bin with a grey lid for plastic bottles, cans and drinks cartons.
Rubbish is being collected on a four weekly cycle with grey and blue lid bins alternating with normal bin collections.
Bins are being given out in the north and west mainland before collections start on 9th July.
Jim Fraser
I’m not sure things are so rosy as this article suggests, Below is a note I sent to ‘Recycling@shetland.gov.uk’ with what I thinks are very valid queries for some people living outside Lerwick.
Disappointedly no one has taken the time to reply.
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Hi, a couple of queries about the new wheelie bins for recycling that is about to be implemented on the Westside.
What consideration has been given to households, like mine and many others, who live some distance from the main road where collections take place.
The road isn’t tarred and about 500m long, so pushing a wheelie bin along it isn’t an option. In my particular case, in Tresta, the road is currently shared by 3 households. Also, there wouldn’t be room for the bins
Is it expected that we tie the wheelie bins to the fence at the main road that’s owned by another, perhaps unwilling, landowner.
Who would be liable should a bin come loose and end up on the highway potentially causing a road traffic accident. That scenario must have been risk assessed, is that risk assessment available for public viewing.
What was the results from the trial in the North of the island, my problem will be found throughout the islands.
Sadly, what this means to me is getting the black bags collected on a two week basis and perhaps having to make my own arrangements outwith that.
Regards
Jim Fraser
Tresta
Ian Tinkler
Does this mean we will have to ship even more domestic waste from overseas of Shetland to keep our Lerwick District Heating scheme running! Just how much fuel oil will be burnt at sea importing other peoples domestic wast to generate “GREEN ENERGY” to Lerwick’s lucky few. I call them the “lucky few” in sarcasm as they will have the rare privilege of inhaling the most toxic cocktail of release gasses in imaginable. Never mind loads of money to the usual suspects. All in the name of combating climate change, shame the fiasco creates more CO2 release per unit of energy than a pure burn of clean natural gas from Sullom Voe ever would. We export that clean gas overseas for others to benefit from cheap, clean energy at a fraction of the cost and toxicity we so enjoy.
Michael Garriock
“I call them the “lucky few” in sarcasm as they will have the rare privilege of inhaling the most toxic cocktail of release gasses in imaginable.”
Really?!?
So, you mean that all that guff that was spouted by SIC staff in the late 90’s when the incinerator was being planned and built, about its emissions being heavily filtered and all it would let out in to the atmosphere was ‘warm, clean air’ (or words that strongly gave that impression at least) was complete bull…..
Wella, who’d a thunk it…..
James Mackenzie
While we don’t have a shared road and ours is shorter, we do share Jim’s concerns, especially with regard to where to place – and tie – the bins for collection, and liability etc. Some guidance would be most welcome on these matters.