Tetra pak reminder

Orkney Islands Council’s waste team has now removed tetra pak skips from its recycling centres. This means householders should now put all ‘tetra pak’ style containers in their grey bins with other household refuse.

‘Tetra pak’ is used for products such as juice and milk cartons and pringles style containers.

However, the waste team is urging folks to not try and recycle their tetra pak cartons in other skips, to avoid loads in those skips then being rejected for reprocessing.

Head of Neighbourhood Services, Lorna Richardson, explains: “Please don’t be tempted to put them in the paper skips as tetra pak contain multiple materials – plastic, aluminium and card – and can’t be recycled together with paper or any other recyclables we collect.

“If tetra paks do work their way into our recyclables, it could mean the whole load would be deemed contaminated and be rejected when it arrives at the reprocessors south.

“We have a great track record here in Orkney when it comes to local people working with us to provide good, clean, separated recycling to processors - which enables us to fetch the best possible market prices on behalf of the community.

“We really do appreciate this care and attention shown by householders and want to take this opportunity to pass on sincere thanks – it really does help maximise the returns we get for our recyclables, which is money that ultimately supports vital Council services.”

Tetra pak skips have been removed across the county over the past few days, following withdrawal of a collection service by our supplier. This was due to rising costs.

You can read more about this in our previous news release at www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=9107