New items added to recycling collection list in green scheme

PLASTIC bottles and batteries are set to be picked up as part of the council's kerbside collection service for the first time.

From Monday green-minded residents can dispose of the items alongside the red and blue recycling boxes, which are currently used for cans, glass and paper.

A council spokeswoman said the move was in response to long-standing public demands.

This upgrade to the city's waste collection portfolio is a step towards reducing Edinburgh's landfill tax bill, which is set to soar in the face of tough European legislation that could see the Capital forking out an extra 5 million a year in landfill levies if current levels are sustained.

According to council figures, the city already pays more than 7m per year in landfill tax.

It has been estimated that 2500 tonnes of plastic and one tonne of batteries could be diverted from landfill if householders choose to recycle these items under the new service.

Reusable plastic bags will be provided for the plastic bottle recycling, which can then be put on top of the red box or beside it if the box is full.

City environmental leader Councillor Robert Aldridge said: "It is important as a city that we lower the amount of rubbish sent to landfill and the introduction of these new services will make it easier for residents to recycle even more materials.

"Everyone has a responsibility to reduce waste, especially with materials such as plastics and batteries.

"Recycling at the kerbside protects natural resources and I would urge the public to get behind these new services and reduce, reuse and recycle where they can.

"The tax that council taxpayers will pay on every tonne of landfill produced is going to increase substantially over the next few years and that's why it's so important to reduce the amount of waste and recycle as much as possible.

"Our job is to make that as easy as possible, so adding these items to the broad range of items we collect will save council tax payers' money and the environment.

"People have been desperate to recycle plastics for a long time and I'm delighted to be able to add this to collections.

Juliet Swann, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "Obviously this is great news as any measure that makes it easier for people to recycle is very welcome.

"However, the main thing we all must do to reduce the amount of waste we produce and resources we exploit is to just use less stuff.

"Reducing and reusing should be given at least as much attention as recycling, if not more."

From April 2009 to March 2010, the council collected 71,372 tonnes of recyclable material and figures from 2008-9 suggest that Edinburgh produces the lowest amount of municipal solid waste and the lowest residual waste per household in Scotland.