How typical are Aberdeenshire’s kerbside collections?
When putting out information about our bins and recycling strategy, I get a lot of comments along the lines of ‘everyone else does (this), why can’t we?’ So, I went looking for information on what everyone else actually does.
Firstly, there are 32 different councils in Scotland – from islands to cities to the massive area of the Highlands. I therefore looked at size and population to select the councils to compare Aberdeenshire against, ending up with the six councils with the most similar population density (three above, three below) to ours.
All six councils have different systems to each other, and to Aberdeenshire.
| Council | Number of bins | Glass collected? | Garden waste? | Recycling rate (2020) |
| Aberdeenshire (future system) | 3 | No | No (subject to review) | 40.8% |
| Angus | 3 | Yes, in mixed recycling bin | Yes | 57.9% |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 3 | No | No | 30.1% |
| Moray | 4 | Yes, in separate box | Yes, fee applies* | 54.9% |
| Perth & Kinross | 3 | No | Yes* | 49.4% |
| Borders | 2 | No | No | 52.8% |
| Stirling | 4 | Yes, in separate box | Yes, fee applies* | 47.8% |
Collection schedules differed substantially. The Borders have the same system we currently have, with fortnightly collections of bins and weekly collections of the food waste caddy. Stirling collects each type of bin every four weeks, bar the combined food and garden waste which is every two weeks. The longest gap for collection of food waste is in Moray (combined with garden waste), every three weeks. For Moray and Stirling, the same bin is provided whether you use it for garden waste or not. If you do put garden waste in, then it will only be collected if you have paid the yearly fee (£40/£35).
Going from two to three bins and from fortnightly to three weekly collections might seem like a radical idea, but when you look at similar councils, it’s actually unremarkable.
Remember, the rollout of the new system will happen in stages throughout 2023. Properties that do not have space for a third bin can request alternative arrangements. Food waste will still be collected every week.
Your part of Aberdeenshire Admin, Mel, put some pressure on them to sort out the 40.8% recycling figure. Not good enough.
I agree, it isn’t good enough. Need to look at the best performing, similar, councils across the UK I think. Homework for the summer holidays!
I also agree that the current recycling figure is not good enough.
Hopefully opposition councillors will play their part in coming up with solutions too, and not leave it solely to administration councillors.
All local councillors get the opportunity to question officers at area committee meetings and policy committee meetings.
It has been refreshing to see Councillor Victor (as well as Mel and Councillor Burnett) attend the community council meetings in Newtonhill.
I’m sorry that glass is no longer collected.
Obviously glass is the big thing missing here and will increase the areas percentage greatly.
It was collected before so can be done again in the multi recycle bin; far preferable to having another bin which I am not keen on at all.