This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Big Recycle starts rolling
27/06/2005
National Recycling Week, with the Big Recycle as part of
it, was launched today.
Opening Whitburn Community Recycling Centre, Environment
Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The Big Recycle for Scotland is all about participation
and making people aware of the huge benefits we can gain
with a little effort put into recycling our waste.
"The Executive has invested over £300 million, to
2007/08, to increase the availability of recycling
facilities across Scotland and make it easier for everyone
to participate. We plan to invest over £1 billion to 2020
to transform Scotland's approach to waste management.
"This investment is reaping rewards with Scotland's
recycling rate increasing from 9.6 per cent in 2002/2003 to
almost 16 per cent at the end of last year.
"Scotland started at a very low base in terms of
recycling and we have made considerable progress in
reaching almost 16 per cent. More, however, needs to be
done. It is a challenge, but well worth the effort, and a
battle we can win."
Whitburn Community Centre takes the following items for
recycling:
- cans
- aluminium
- steel
- car batteries
- cardboard
- construction waste
- electrical appliances
- engine oil
- furniture
- garden waste
- gas cylinders
- glass bottles and jars
- paper
- plastic bottles
- textiles
- white goods
- wood
The centre has facilities for disabled people and
trained staff.
West Lothian has received over £33 million from the
Executive's Strategic Waste Fund, to the year 2020. These
resources are to help West Lothian improve kerbside
collections of recyclable material and to improve recycling
centres and points
National Recycling Week - the Big Recycle for Scotland
runs from June 27 to July 2. Other activities planned in
the week include:
• Waste Aware Construction is being formally launched
tomorrow by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group, at the
Canniesburn Residential Development Site, at Bearsden. This
is a colour coding scheme for use at construction sites, to
encourage the separation of waste materials to make it
easier to recycle them.
• The Scottish Executive will shortly launch a
consultation on targets for public bodies to specify
recycled material when letting contracts.
• The Scottish Waste Awareness Group is arranging for
local authorities to provide specific information on
recycling facilities in local areas.