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Household refuse and recycling welcome pack

Orkney Mainland and Shapinsay

IMAGE: The cover identifies the document as “Household refuse and recycling welcome pack” for “Orkney Mainland and Shapinsay”. It displays the Orkney Islands Council crest and the words “ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL”, above a photograph of a harbour with small boats, houses and a church.

Welcome

This welcome pack lets you know what you can and can’t recycle on the Orkney Mainland and what you can throw away in your household waste. It also sets out information on the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and the Council’s bulky item special collection service. Our Household Refuse and Recycling Service Policies document sets out this information in greater detail. It can be found here: (www.orkney.gov.uk/our-services/waste-and-recycling/policies-and-plans-waste-and-recycling).

Why Recycle?

Recycling helps conserve important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future. Recycling saves energy. Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials – even when comparing all associated costs including transport etc.

If all cans in the UK were recycled we could get rid of 14 million dustbins.

IMAGE: Four photographs illustrate recycling and waste reduction: a person placing a bottle into recycling bins, a person putting flattened cardboard into a recycling container, bottles left by a front door, and a person sorting packaging into a container.

Your grey refuse bin/red bag collection

Your grey bin is collected every fortnight and is to be used to throw away items that can’t be recycled. If your property is greater than 75 metres from the collection point or you have storage issues (i.e., you live in a flat), the property could be entitled to receive red bags to put out your rubbish.

Calendars that tell you when your collection day is can be found here: (www.orkney.gov.uk/recycling) using the roads list to determine your area and then use the calendars to find the correct collection week.

Please remember to have your bin/bags ready at the roadside at 8am on the day of your collection.

Orkney Islands Council’s household policy states that all waste must be contained within your bin/bag. Any excess waste left on top or beside the bin will not be collected.

Missed collection? Please note that if your collection has been missed we will not come back to collect it. Instead please present it on your next scheduled date or take it to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Bin Broken?

If you have a damaged bin, it will be tagged with a red tag which will give information on how to get a free replacement.

If you notice it then please request one here; www.orkney.gov.uk/requestit or contact Customer Services on 01856 873535.

IMAGE: A refuse collection diagram shows a grey wheelie bin and a red refuse bag connected to a “Yes Please” area labelled “Collected fortnightly”. It includes examples of general waste such as a nappy, a crisp packet and plastic wrapping, and instructs residents to put items out by “08:00”. A second “Yes Please” area shows green recycling bins, boxes and bags collected fortnightly, with glass bottles, plastic bottles, food tins, drink cans, aerosols, foil, cardboard, paper and thin card.

Your green recycling bins/box and canvas bag collection

Your recycling bins are collected every fortnight and should be used to present your recycling for collection at the kerbside in four different streams. If your property is greater than 75 metres from the collection point or you have storage issues (i.e. you live in a flat), the property could be entitled to receive a green box and three green bags to present your recycling instead.

The guidance in this document sets out what can and cannot be recycled. Each recyclable material must be separated and presented in one of our approved containers for each type. Two streams are collected each cycle.

The Council will not accept additional recycling presented at the kerbside; it must be in your bin, box or bag. If you are finding that you regularly have more recycling than you have space then please call us to order more containers.

Missed collection? – If your bin has been missed, please contact our customer services team who will be able to provide further details on what to do next.

I’ve been tagged? – Recycling containers will be ‘tagged’ if the materials contained within them are deemed by the crews as unacceptable or ‘contaminated’ or the incorrect bins presented. If your container is tagged you will need to remove the unwanted materials and re-present at the next collection or you can take it yourself to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

Alternate weekly collection pattern

Here is a schematic to show how the alternate collection method operates, check to see where you join into the cycle.

IMAGE: A circular schematic labelled “Alternate weekly collection pattern” shows two “General Waste” collections alternating with recycling collections. The first fortnight is labelled “Glass & Plastic Bottles”. The second fortnight is labelled “Metal Cans, aerosols and foil & Paper/Thin Card”. Arrows show the cycle between the two general waste collections and the two recycling streams.

Other waste and recycling services

Additional capacity

Where residents feel they do not have sufficient capacity, and qualifying criteria are met, a request to the Council for additional container(s) can be made. Contact us to request a form or fill one in online at; www.orkney.gov.uk/requestit.

Assisted collection

The assisted collection service is provided for households where there is no-one living at the property who is physically able to carry the rubbish and recycling to the boundary for collection and that there are no family, friends or neighbours nearby who are willing and able to assist. Contact us to request a form or fill one in online at; www.orkney.gov.uk/requestit.

Alternate Collection Method (red bags)

Where a property is more than 75 metres from the public road/collection point or storage for wheeled bins are not available, such as a flat or terraced property with no rear or front garden area, then the property may qualify for red bags instead of wheeled bins. These are delivered annually and each property receives a standard allocation of 75 red bags per year. You’ll still need to recycle everything you can to help ensure that the red bags last the full year. Properties that qualify for these can have a green box and canvas bags to be able to present the recycling instead of wheeled bins.

Household Bulky Waste Collection Service

If you have something bulky to dispose of and it is still in reasonable condition you could donate it to a charity such as Restart Orkney or maybe you could consider selling your items online first. The councils website has details of where to donate here: www.orkney.gov.uk/recycling.

Unable to take it yourself? The Council offers a household bulky waste collection service. Items must be able to be safely lifted by 2 people (or the item will not be taken). Further information on this service can be found here: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/Special-Refuse-Collections.htm.

Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

There are three main Household Waste and Recycling Centres on the Orkney Mainland – Bossack in Tankerness, Garson Industrial Estate in Stromness and Hatston Industrial Estate, Crowness Crescent, Kirkwall.

Each site is equipped with bins and skips households can use to dispose or recycle a wide range of household items – everything from domestic waste to scrap metal, furniture, carpets, cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, batteries and electrical items.

These sites are not for trade waste and if a trades person, self-employed or other does work on your house, they must not dispose of any materials taken from your house to these sites.

Additionally there are sites at Cursiter in Firth, St Margaret's Hope and Dounby where you can dispose of certain recycling streams.

The opening hours and information about what can be disposed of at the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are advertised on the Council’s website here: www.orkney.gov.uk/HWRC.

IMAGE: A recycling-centre sign reads “At this site you can recycle:” and lists “paper”, “cardboard”, “glass”, “food & drink cans”, “textiles”, “garden waste”, “building materials”, “electrical”, “batteries”, “car batteries”, “used engine oil” and “and more...”. The sign is branded “Orkney recycles”.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous materials such as asbestos, flares, explosives, gas cylinders, solvents, pesticides or live ammunition should not be disposed of within your household bin or at any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres; please contact Council Customer Services on 873535 for how to dispose of these items safely.

Other hazardous waste materials such as chemicals (printer toners etc), electrical equipment, light tubes, vehicle batteries, oils (engine) can be disposed of through the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre network.

IMAGE: The page includes a yellow warning sign labelled “hazardous waste”, a row of gas cylinders, and strapped and covered bulky items awaiting disposal.

Food Waste/Composting

Did you know that approximately 60% of the average household refuse bin can be taken out and treated other ways such as recycling and composting, leaving just 40% on average that requires a different sort of treatment. Orkney Islands Council is currently exempt from the legislative requirements to separate food waste for treatment. Therefore, and as per the Council’s commitment to the Household Recycling Charter outcomes, we encourage Orkney residents to think about composting in the absence of a food waste collection service. This will further minimize the residual waste left to throw in your grey refuse bin. Residents can purchase a hot bin composter (Green Johanna) at a reduced price through Great Green Systems UK via the Council’s Website.

getcomposting.com

This bin requires both food waste and green garden waste to work effectively and does not attract vermin. The result if used correctly is a nutrient rich compost for the garden. It has been shown to work well in Orkney’s climate.

Love Food Hate Waste also has ideas and advice on how to save more and waste less food. Visit their website for recipes, storage solutions and money saving ideas.

lovefoodhatewaste.com

IMAGE: A graphic explains that food and garden waste, represented by food scraps, a tree, leaves and a pepper, combine to produce a Green Johanna compost bin. The caption reads “Green Johanna - Food and Garden Waste”.

Your recycling explained

IMAGE: A recycling infographic titled “Your recycling explained” states “WHAT you can RECYCLE in your bin/bag/box”. It gives the following guidance and labels:

  • “Plastic bottles only (type 1 and 2 PET and HDPE)”
  • “Bottles only, lids on, no other plastics”
  • “Glass bottles and jars”
  • “Rinse bottles please”
  • “Food tins, drink cans foil and empty aerosols”
  • “Clean, dry and empty”
  • “Paper and thin card”
  • “Take cardboard boxes to your local recycling centre or point to recycle”
  • “Top Tips”
  • “Make sure your recycling is empty - no liquids”
  • “Scrunch your tin foil together to form a large ball, it makes sure we capture all of the material”
  • “Place all of your items loose in their bins, not in bags”
  • “Metals are the most valuable so make your cans count.”
  • “Plastic bottles only, squeeze and leave lids on.”
  • “Recycling is more valuable when it is clean”
  • “good to know”

The infographic marks the following items as unsuitable for recycling with red crosses: “Light bulbs”, “Cookware (Pyrex)”, “Broken glass/mirrors”, “Food containers (e.g. margarine tubs, fruit punnets, vending cups)”, “Yogurt Pots”, “Plastic bags”, “Paint/Petrol cans”, “Pringle type tubs”, “Scrap metal”, “Food pouches”, “Cardboard”, “Large catalogues”, “Cartons”, “Egg boxes” and “Plastic envelopes”. It also includes photographs or illustrations of the accepted and rejected items.

Getting your recycling right

  • Recycling must be empty rinsed and dry to avoid contamination as recycling is more valuable when it is clean.
  • It is also helpful if residents place the lids of their metal cans inside and squash the top slightly. This can prevent the thin lids escaping into parts of the machinery, which can lead to damage.
  • Cans generally though shouldn't be crushed entirely as this can affect the bailing process.
  • Empty aerosols can be included along with foil trays and clean tin foil with the cans.
  • Do make sure that the aerosols are empty.
  • Do not pierce, crush or flatten aerosols before recycling.
  • Remember, not all products that appear to be aluminium foil are recyclable. For example, some crisp packets or pet food pouches can look like aluminium foil, but they are made from metalised plastic and cannot be recycled. If it springs back after scrunching it is not aluminum.

IMAGE: Four photographs show flattened and mixed packaging, a large pile of plastic bottles, clear and green glass bottles and jars, and crushed metal drink cans.