There will be important changes to the refuse collection service with a new organic waste collection being rolled out throughout the Western Isles from 20th April 2006. Public notices detailing timetables will be put in all local newspapers in April and will be available on the Waste Aware website, www.cne-siar.gov.uk/recycling.    The change to this service will mean that householders who normally put materials such as kitchen and garden waste, paper and cardboard into their black wheelie bin will need to now separate all these materials into the bin labeled for organic waste only.  The organic waste will be collected the same day as the refuse (residual waste) and both bins should be put out to the kerbside together on collection day. 

This change in service is necessary so that the Western Isles can meet government targets and reduce the impact of landfilling on the environment by diverting as much organic waste as possible from landfill.   

From the beginning of April Comhairle staff will commence bin surveys and householders with two or more bins, will have one bin re-labeled for organic waste only.  If the household only has one bin they will be issued with a new bin marked for organic waste.   

It is unfortunately neither economically nor environmentally justifiable to provide new bins for every household in the Western Isles as it would cost over £180,000 and approximately 8,000 existing bins would become redundant and require disposal.   

Whilst staff are re-labeling the bins, they will also provide households with a free kitchen caddy, information leaflet and three heavy duty paper bin liners which will help keep the organic bins clean.  Further liners can be purchased from local retailers.  Plastic bags/liners cannot be used to wrap the organic waste before putting into the organic bin as it will severely affect the end quality of the product (compost) and may result in us having to send the compost to landfill.   

Pilot Collection Phase

The scheme will start in relatively small pilot areas to allow the Comhairle to refine the collection service with the following areas being selected for the first pilot organic waste collection service: 

Tong, Tong Park, Aird Tong, Tong Allotments, Clachan Biorach, Morrison Terrace, Morrison Square, Ford Terrace, Ford View, Milkinghill, Milkinghill Park, Springside and the small part of Upper Coll and Gearraidh Guirm that borders Tong), Tong Road, Newmarket, Benside & Bakers Road, Newmarket (main road out to Bridge Cottages), Newpark

 Information leaflets will be posted out to all households in the pilot area from week beginning 27th March informing them that their last normal refuse (residual waste) collection will be on Thursday 6th April and the first new collection will be on Thursday 20th April.  Any household who does not receive a leaflet is asked to contact the Waste Aware Helpline on 709900. 

 During the pilot phase, the organic and residual waste will be taken to the Bennadrove Landfill Site for analysis to optimize the collection system for the full roll out of the new service.  Once the new service commences fully, all waste will be taken to the new Creed Park Environmental Centre, Stornoway where the organic waste will be processed into high grade compost. It is planned that the new recycling centre will accept the first organic waste in June 2006 for processing into compost.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk