Recycling collections to resume in Moray
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MORAY Council is to restart collections of recycling waste from next week.
Following a period of self-isolation and the implementation of social distancing within the workforce, the council says there is now sufficient capacity to re-instate collection of blue and purple bins on a three-weekly schedule from Monday, April 20.
Recycling bins will be emptied on the same day as residents’ normal green bin collection day. Details can be found on the council’s bin day finder page on its website.
However, glass for kerbside collection will not be collected as yet. The council says it is working to enable servicing of its unmanned bottle banks, which should only be used as part of an essential journey for food or medical supplies and social distancing should be observed.
A Moray Council spokesman said: "Observations over the last three weeks means we have capacity to reinstate some of the recycling services and still maintain social distancing between our teams.
"It is heartening to see that residents have taken on our request to store their recycling waste rather than putting it in the green bins as we’ve seen no increase in waste going to landfill.
"Our teams have also been buoyed by the public messages of support they have seen on their rounds – it’s made a huge difference to them all."
SNP council leader Councillor Graham Leadbitter and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead welcomed the partial reinstatement of recycling services and commended waste officers for their efforts in redesigning the service to cope with the impact of coronavirus.
Cllr Leadbitter said: "I have been in regular contact with our waste team in the last few weeks as they worked through the significant impacts of coronavirus on workforce management, working out procedures that enable social distancing and minimise risk to staff and working closely with the businesses that process recycling waste.
"As a result of that work I am pleased that the council is able to reinstate a partial recycling service that will see the paper and card collection and the plastic and tin collection reinstated on a three-weekly cycle."
Mr Lochhead said: "The temporary suspension of recycling collection was clearly necessary while both the council and the recycling and haulage industries all adjusted to the very rapid changes that have occurred to reduce the spread of coronavirus – but it was important to get some form of service back up and running as soon as possible.
"I am very much aware of the complexities of running a waste collection service for tens of thousands of properties in Moray and the complexity of the supply chain for the different waste streams.
"The efforts of both the waste teams that are collecting general waste and recycling in very challenging circumstances and the management team who have, in effect, redesigned the service in just a fortnight should be commended.
"This partial reinstatement will take a lot of pressure off households, many of whom were starting to worry about storage of recycling."
Earlier today, Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross had urged the council to rethink the suspension policy, highlighting residents' fly-tipping concerns.
Mr Ross said after the announcement: "I have been in ongoing discussion with Moray Council about this issue and I’m pleased that they have swiftly acted on these concerns and most recycling collections will resume, whilst all necessary precautions will be taken to adhere to all the COVID-19 regulations regarding social distancing.
"Our refuse collectors do an excellent job in all kinds of weather and I pay tribute to them for their ongoing efforts and willingness to get the job done."
Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie) said: "The initial decision was taken based on a large number of staff absences and as we adjusted to life during lockdown.
"Whilst the new arrangements are tight in terms of staff capacity the council has been able to put in place the collection of recycling at the same time as green bin collection which is on a three-week cycle."
Councillor Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen) said: "At this point it is not possible to collect glass as we try to ensure the structure is as resilient as possible during a period of high staff absence. However, we already have 22 recycling points across Moray and additional points will be placed at major supermarkets to allow for disposal of glass."
