Recycling Smart This Festive Season

The festive season is upon us, and with it comes an opportunity to make greener choices for a sustainable future.

The Highland Council is urging residents to recycle responsibly this Christmas and New Year, helping reduce waste and lower carbon footprints.

Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, highlights the importance of festive recycling to cut waste disposal and improve sustainability.

New twin-bin recycling systems are in place across much of the Highlands, with blue bins for paper, cardboard, and recyclable wrapping paper, and green bins for plastics, tins, and aerosols.

Skye and Lochalsh will see the new system by spring 2025, with Lochaber following in summer 2025.

Soft plastics like cling film and crisp packets are not accepted in Council bins but may be recycled at local supermarkets or must go in general waste.

The Council’s website provides comprehensive guidance on what goes into each bin.

Planning festive food shopping carefully can prevent waste and save money, as common over-purchases include cheese, biscuits, and vegetables.

Using leftovers creatively or freezing them helps reduce waste, with more tips available on Love Food Hate Waste’s website.

Households in Inverness, Nairn, and Easter Ross are encouraged to maximise the use of food waste collection services for items like turkey bones and vegetable peelings.

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, and recycling these items ensures valuable materials are recovered while avoiding landfill.

Councillor MacKenzie advises repairing, selling, or donating unwanted gadgets before considering recycling.

For items beyond repair, residents should visit local Household Waste Recycling Centres, where staff can ensure safe and efficient disposal.

Batteries should never go in household bins due to fire risks but can be recycled at dedicated drop-off points, including supermarkets.

Glass bottles and jars from Hogmanay celebrations are easily recyclable at bottle banks or Household Waste Recycling Centres, with no need to separate colours.

Real Christmas trees can be taken to recycling centres to be composted, offering a sustainable way to dispose of festive greenery.

Recycling centres remain open except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and January 1st and 2nd, with pre-sorting of materials recommended to save time and maximise recycling efficiency.

By recycling smartly and planning ahead, Highland residents can make this festive season a greener one for everyone.

Some bin collection dates will change over the festive period. 

If your bin is usually collected on a Wednesday or a Thursday, see the alternative dates below:

• Wednesday 25 December 2024 collections will be collected on Saturday 21 December 2024
• Thursday 26 December 2024 (Boxing Day) collections operating as normal
• Wednesday 1 January 2025 collections will be collected on Saturday 28 December 2024
• Thursday 2 January 2025 collections will be done on Saturday 4 January 2025

If your bin is not emptied on the dates as detailed above, please leave it out and we will collect it as soon as possible.

To check your bin collections please visit: www.highland.gov.uk/bincalendars

Householders are reminded to separate their items before arriving at the site – this saves time and increases the amount of recycling.

Please check www.highland.gov.uk/recyclingcentres for full details of Household Waste Recycling Centre opening hours and for the full range of materials accepted.

For further information about recycling in the Highlands visit: www.highland.gov.uk/recycle or email recycle@highland.gov.uk