Scottish council launches digital tool to boost recycling

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has introduced a new digital toolkit to help tackle waste levels across the region. 

The announcement follows an SBC survey where half of respondents admitted to throwing items in their general waste bin because they were unsure if these could be recycled. 

Ross Sharp-Dent, waste and passenger transport manager at Scottish Borders Council, said: “Research has shown that 75 per cent of what goes in the average general waste bin could be recycled. Through this one-year trial, we can help to lower this number by educating and informing residents about what can and cannot be recycled whilst helping them manage their collections more efficiently.”  

The portal has a bin guide detailing how to dispose of packaging and users receive timely updates on information on collections, such as when weather may disrupt these services. 

Residents can input their address to get details specific to their location including collection days and what items can and cannot be recycled at the kerbside. 

 The portal also offers a ‘Recycling Challenge’ game to help engage locals and educate them on items they cannot recycle locally. 

An accompanying app is set to be introduced in the coming weeks, which will allow residents to receive notifications directly to their devices, including information on missed and rescheduled collections. 

It is hoped the tool will help the council “build” its reputation as one of the top Scottish councils for recycling rates, Sharp-Dent added.