21 September 2020

Aberdeenshire residents recognised for recycling throughout the pandemic this Recycle Week

Thanks for all you’ve done, and please keep up the good work!

That’s the message from Aberdeenshire Council and Zero Waste Scotland to North-east residents this Recycle Week (21st to 28th September).

Aberdeenshire communities are being recognised for continuing to recycle and reuse even in the midst of a global pandemic, as well as the hard work of waste collection crews and recycling centre staff up and down the country who have kept our essential recycling services running during 2020.

Now in its 11th year, Zero Waste Scotland’s Recycle Week is an annual celebration of recycling and encourages a week of positive action. Scotland’s latest Programme for Government has emphasised the importance of recycling with a £70 million fund announced to improve local authority collection infrastructure.

Ros Baxter, Waste Manager at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “Despite everything which Aberdeenshire residents have had to endure this year, It’s tremendous to see that people are taking responsibility for protecting the environment by choosing to recycle.

“It is something we can all do - no matter where we live - and when we all recycle the positive result for our environment is massive. Recycle Week this year provides an opportunity for us as a council to thank everyone across the North-east of Scotland for their continuing efforts.”

She also praised staff for the tremendous efforts they have made this year, adding: “Under the Covid-19 redeployment, many of our employees from Roads, Landscape Services and Waste Management were required to work longer hours, commute to new locations and undergo training in unfamiliar departments. 

“Staff really have been heroes within our communities – they have demonstrated incredible teamwork and dedication under difficult circumstances, which is a testament to their resilience and personal character.”

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Even a pandemic hasn’t stopped Aberdeenshire residents recycling. Almost everyone’s day-to-day routine has been rewritten during 2020 and we recognise the efforts people have made to keep recycling and reusing products and materials.

“We’d like to say a massive thank you to Aberdeenshire as every plastic bottle or apple core placed in the recycling bin makes a difference to the environment. The waste collection crews, recycling centre staff and local authority teams also deserve recognition for going above and beyond to keep services running when faced with big challenges.

“While Scotland has come a long way since recycling was first introduced, there is still much more we can do, so let’s keep on recycling as much as we can.”

Waste collection crews across Scotland were praised by the public for safely maintaining essential services during the most significant impact of coronavirus. Householders showed their appreciation with thank you stickers on bins, knitted mascots and a piper in the Crook of Devon, Kinross-shire, gave his thanks by performing for the crew as they emptied the bins in his street.

Recycle Week will be hosted virtually this year with the hashtag #RecycleWeek. Zero Waste Scotland will publish fun hints and tips for how to recycle as much as possible on the How to Waste Less website.

For any queries or concerns about recycling, please get in touch with the Recycling and Waste Aberdeenshire Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireWaste/ or email the Recycling and Waste team at waste@aberdeenshire.gov.uk