Public urged to avoid leaving glass beside full-up bottle banks
Members of the public are being urged not to leave glass bottles beside overflowing recycling bins as Highland Council waits for regular collections to resume.
Bottle banks are chock-a-block in many parts of the north and in some cases – including in Caithness – bottles and jars have been left on the ground when containers have been found to be full up.
The problems have been caused by “vehicle difficulties”.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The council’s glass contractor Biffa is experiencing vehicle difficulties which have impacted on servicing the glass recycling banks across the region. Biffa is working hard to catch up on the servicing of glass banks.
“The council is aware of the areas which are most impacted and these are being prioritised. Biffa has confirmed that two new vehicles are being built and that they will be taking delivery of the ordered replacement vehicles imminently.”
“Members of the public are reminded that if their local glass bank is still full, please avoid leaving any glass by the banks and instead take it away until the banks have capacity.”
The spokesperson pointed out that the council’s website included a list of bottle banks that had been emptied since August 12. This covered 44 locations, from Skye and Lochalsh and Fort William to Inverness and Aviemore, but none in Caithness.
In the Lidl car park in Wick on Sunday, there was no room left in any of the four glass recycling containers. Many bottles and jars had been left on the ground nearby, some jammed into plastic carrier bags.
Earlier, Highlands and Islands Green MSP Ariane Burgess had described the situation as “immensely frustrating”.
She called on members of the public who encounter full bottle banks to take their glass to another site nearby, or hold onto it until the banks are cleared.
“Glass litter has a direct physical impact on wild and domestic animals, those taking part in outdoor sports, on cyclists and children,” Ms Burgess warned.
