Staff numbers increased at area's recycling centres
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Additional staff are being recruited for Aberdeenshire’s recycling centres to help householders recycle even more.
On average, 63 per cent of materials taken to centres in the area are recycled, with rates varying from 47 per cent to 72 per cent at the various locations.
The aim is for all recycling centres to reach 75 per cent by 2023.
Up to 20 new staff are due to be in place by mid-September and will provide advice and assistance to householders about what can be recycled.
The additional roles are part of a package of improvements agreed by councillors in January.
It is faster and easier to recycle more if householders pre-sort their materials at home before arriving at a recycling centre.
Site layouts for each of the centres are also now available on the council’s website to encourage householders to pre-sort their waste.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, councillor Peter Argyle, said: “We are keen for residents to use their local recycling centres to recycle as much as they can.
“We aim to have all our centres recycling 75 per cent of waste by 2023 – this is all dependent on how well householders segregate their waste at the recycling centres, so we are keen to work with them to help them recycle more.”
Recycling centres complement the kerbside collection service and accept a wide range of materials for recycling, including: batteries (household and car); blue bin recycling; cooking oil; electrical appliances; engine oil; fluorescent tubes; garden waste; gas cylinders; glass bottles and jars; plasterboard; rubble and ceramics; scrap metal; soil and turf; textiles; and wood (including treated)
Some recycling centres also accept furniture and household goods for reuse, and recycling of rigid plastics is currently being trialled at the Ellon and Peterhead recycling centres.
The materials accepted at each centre can vary so householders are encouraged to check the council’s website beforehand at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentres
Committee vice-chairman councillor John Cox said: “We will provide advice specific to householders’ needs and we have also improved the information on the website to make it easier to see what can be recycled where.
“We hope this will lead to increased rates off recycling across the board.”
