Orkney Islands Council has made the decision to suspend recycling services in order to concentrate on the collection and disposal of household and commercial waste. This is due to shortages of staff during the COVID19, coronavirus pandemic

The following changes will be made:

• Closure of all Household Recycling Centres – Bossack, Hatston, St. Margaret’s Hope, Cursiter and Garson – from Monday 30 March in line with Government guidance that only essential travel should be undertaken.
• Closure of all Recycling Points (Mainland). Skips will be removed once full and not replaced.
• Closure of Isles recycling points. Please do not use these containers from now on and, if at all possible, store recyclable items at home.
• No bulky waste or special collection service (all areas), but assisted collections will continue.
• No recycling collection service (all areas, domestic and commercial). These will take place for the final time on Tuesday 31st March.
• Domestic waste collection (grey bins) to continue on a fortnightly basis on your usual waste collection day. Residents who do not currently have bins can put black bags out for collection from the kerbside instead. This service will be available to all households, even if you have not previously used the Council’s kerbside collection services. Leave bagged rubbish at the kerbside outside your home or at the end of private roads for collection.
• Domestic waste collection (red bags) to continue on a fortnightly basis on your usual waste collection day. If residents run out of red bags, please use standard black bags (widely available from supermarkets and grocery stores) and these will be collected from the kerbside.
• Isles waste collection services will continue but are likely to be affected by changes to ferry timetables. Collection days may be subject to short-notice changes.
• Commercial waste collections will continue and existing customers can continue to use the commercial facilities at Chinglebraes and Bossack. Entry to both will be via the weighbridge.
• Litter bins will only be emptied when full. People are being encouraged to take litter and dog waste home with them and dispose of it there.

Waste disposal

National advice for anyone self-isolating with symptoms of coronavirus, or living with someone who does, is to put any personal waste (such as used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths) within disposable rubbish bags and then:

• Double bag them.
• Tie the bags securely.
• Store bags for at least 72 hours before putting them in your grey bin.
• Ensure the bagged waste is securely contained within the grey bin.
• On collection day, ensure the bin lid is fully closed.