Highland Council set to clamp down at recycling centres
New operating rules are to be brought into effect at Highland Council’s recycling centres from next week.
The authority’s sites will no longer accept waste associated with commercial or trade activities from Monday (April 28) in Aviemore, Grantown and Kingussie.
This includes any work carried out for business or profit such as household clearances, furniture removals and handyman or gardening services.
A letter explaining these changes has been written to a number of businesses that have used the recycling centres in the past and includes details of licensed disposal facilities in their area where they can dispose of their waste.
A council spokesman said: "Staff at recycling centres across the region will turn away individuals or businesses that attempt to deposit this type of waste and issue them with a Rejection Notice and a leaflet detailing alternative local licensed disposal facilities.
"As required by law, SEPA will also be notified of the details of the individual or business and the type of waste that is being carried.
"This measure forms part of a Highland wide review of the council’s recycling centres and aims to improve the operation of the sites by driving down waste from commercial operators, increasing recycling and improving skip availability at peak times for householders. "
Councillor Graham Philips, Chairman of Highland Council’s Community Services, said: "In recent years the amount of waste sent to landfill from recycling centres has been steadily rising and with landfill tax now at £80 per tonne it is imperative that the council takes action to increase recycling and reduce waste to landfill and that the cost of business waste is not borne by the householder."
• For details of where the recycling centres are situated or for further information about using them, contact the recycling team on (01349) 886603; email recycle@highland.gov.uk or visit www.highland.gov,.uk/recycle
