MORE household rubbish has been recycled since the introduction of a new waste service by Renfrewshire Council, writes Jack Thomson.
In the first three months of 2019, data has shown there has been a 6.9 per cent drop in tonnage from grey bins compared to the same period last year.
There has also been major increase in tonnage from food and garden waste collected, with a 43 per cent rise recorded.
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The service change – which saw residents given a new green bin for plastics, cans and glass – was launched in December.
The blue bin is now for paper, card and cardboard only and grey general waste bins are colelcted once every three weeks, instead of once a fortnight.
There was no change to the brown food and garden waste bin.
Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, thanked people for their support as the council looks to reduce waste being sent to landfill.
She said: “We know the changes to waste services have been difficult for people but these figures show that we are doing the right thing and it is working.
“While it is quite shocking to see such a dramatic increase in food waste and while we do need to try to cut down on our waste, it is important that more of this is now being disposed of in the correct way.
“These figures are fantastic and we are certainly heading in the right direction.
“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone in Renfrewshire for supporting the changes and taking small steps in the home to decrease the amount of waste and increase the amount of recycling.”
The changes impacted approximately 90,000 properties in Renfrewshire, which have a kerbside collection service.
The local authority has committed to slashing the costs of disposing waste, while lowering the impact on the environment.
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Council research showed that 69 per cent of rubbish put in general waste could have been recycled, prompting them to encourage people to change their habits.
The Scottish Government aims to ban untreated biodegradable waste being sent to landfill by 2021.
The council is looking to comply with the ban, as well as ensuring it fulfils the national Household Recycling Charter objectives.
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