Eco Active Orkney was in Tesco, Kirkwall and the Warehouse Building, Stromness on Monday to keep us informed about Recycling week which runs from 24 – 30 September this year.

Carol Campbell from Eco Active Orkney at the stall in the foyer of Tesco

This year’s focus is on plastic bottles. These can be widely recycled across Scotland, but still almost 30,000 tonnes of plastic bottles end up in general waste stream from households.

The Council’s waste team will also be visiting  local schools, as well as sharing recycling information and tips on its Facebook and Twitter feeds.

OIC’s Project Coordination Manager for Waste, Jayne Venables, says small improvements in Orkney’s recycling rates could make a huge difference:

“For every 1% extra of material that is recycled, the Council can save up to £12,500 on waste disposal costs.

“Here in Orkney we send 128 tonnes per year of plastic bottles to Shetlands energy waste plant for incineration.

“We’re obviously keen to help improve recycling rates in as many ways as possible, so we’re looking forward to getting out and about speaking to schools and the community about recycling, but also assisting Zero Waste Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government speaking to folk about how a deposit return scheme might work in Scotland.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“Recycle Week is the ideal opportunity to do more to make sure we’re recycling as much as we can. We all use plastic bottles in our daily routines – from shampoo and shower gel, to cleaning products – which can all be widely recycled, and it doesn’t take long to do.

“The issue of single use plastics has been well-documented during the last year, and we want to make sure Scots are aware that we need to take action on plastic now. We have seen recycling rates improve across the country but we’re still seeing too many plastic bottles end up in landfill unnecessarily.”

The stall at Tesco had lots of information for the public to take away.

You can also follow activity and share messages throughout the week on the Eco Active Orkney and/or OIC updates Facebook pages or using #RecycleWeekScot on Twitter.

Tuesday 25th September: 
Co-op, Pickaquoy Rd 9-12 and Hatston HWRC 1-4
Co-op Stromness 9-12 and Garson HWRC 1-4

Wednsday 26th:
The Pickaquoy Centre 3.30-9pm
Orkney College for Green Week all day

Thursday 27th:
St Margaret’s Hope car park (opposite Robertsons) all day

Friday 28th:
School Visits to Dounby and Glaitness