Waste Management Review

17th November 2012

A review is to be made of The Highland Council’s waste management strategy to ensure the Council meets its new statutory requirements under the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

The 2011/12 household recycling rate for Highland was 46% and equivalent municipal waste recycling rate was 40%. The recycling rate a decade before -(2002/3) - was 3%.

The new regulations and the Zero Waste Policy require the Council to:

provide a dry recycling service to households and business (if requested to do so);
provide a separate food waste collection service to households and business (if requested to do so) in Inverness;

ensure that residual waste is treated as a minimum to remove metals and rigid plastics;
ensure that biodegradable waste is not landfilled beyond 1 January 2021
The Council’s efforts will contribute to the overall Scottish targets:

2013 - 50% household waste recycling
2020 - 60% household waste recycling
2025 - 70% all waste recycling
2025 - not more than 5% of all waste to landfill
The Programme for the Highland Council sets a target of 57% recycling for household waste by 2017.

Although there are issues which need further exploration (in particular food waste and glass) the Council has already met some of its requirements in that all in Highland now have a recycling service including household and business collections and a network of more than 200 recycling points.

The 2011/12 household recycling rate for Highland was 46% and equivalent municipal waste recycling rate was 40%. The recycling rate a decade before -(2002/3) - was 3%.

Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, said: “Changes coming down the line will have a dramatic effect on what we do. By 2025 it will be pretty much ‘nil by landfill’, and a completely new way of handling the waste we can’t recycle. There are options for how we deal with that, but all mean major capital investment.

“Given the lead time for projects like this, 2025 actually isn’t that far off. The need for new collection/recycling services means looking at logistics from bin to bulking centre. We have to get much better at recycling glass and, while we do have community recycling centres, coverage isn’t consistent across the Highlands. All this means a root and branch review of what we do, and we are getting a move on with it.”

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

Highland Council Housing Investment: £84 Million Programme Faces Delays as Building Costs Rise

Highland Council is forecasting expenditure of almost £75 million on its housing capital programme during 2026/27, against an original budget of nearly £84 million, as rising building costs, project delays and the availability of additional government funding influence its investment plans.   A Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital monitoring report, covering expenditure to 31 August 2026, is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.  

Today : Local Authority

Highland Council's Housing and Property Plans: Progress Being Made, But Costs and Contractor Shortages Remain a Problem

Highland Council is making progress on a range of housing and property projects, but rising construction costs, shortages of contractors and uncertainty over future funding continue to threaten delivery.   A progress report covering the second quarter of 2026/27 is being considered by the Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.  

Today : Local Authority

Almost 2,500 Empty Homes in Highland: Can the Council Turn Empty Properties into Much-Needed Housing?

Highland Council is stepping up its efforts to bring long-term empty properties back into residential use, but early results from its £1 million Empty Homes Challenge Fund suggest that turning the policy into actual homes may prove more difficult than anticipated.   A report going before the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November provides an update on the strategy introduced in November 2025.  

Today : Local Authority

Highland Housing: Homelessness Reaches Record Level Despite Good Council Performance

The number of people presenting as homeless in the Highlands has reached its highest level in three years, highlighting the growing pressure on housing services despite some encouraging performance figures from Highland Council.   A report covering the six months from April to September 2026 is being considered by the Council's Housing and Property Committee on 4 November.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

 
Highland's Growth Ambitions: Billions in Investment Promised, But Can the Numbers Really Add Up?

Highland Council has set out an ambitious vision for the economic future of the Highlands, with the possibility of attracting between £10 billion and £16 billion of public and private investment over the next 25 years.   On paper, it is an impressive prospect.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Caithness Committee approves six Community Regeneration Fund applications - £237,155

The Caithness Area Committee which met (Monday 2 November 2026) has approved six applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF).   This approval securing significant investment to support local projects that will benefit communities across the north.  

31/10/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness at the Sharp End: Broadband, Buses and Public Services Under Pressure

From the loss of a direct bus link to Inverness to uncertainty over rural broadband, a difficult council budget and the future of community organisations, the past week has provided plenty for Caithness residents to think about.  But there have also been celebrations, local achievements and signs of community spirit.  

31/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Faces a £39.2 Million Budget Gap: Will Council Taxpayers and Services Pay the Price?

Highland Council is facing another difficult financial challenge, with councillors being told that a further £39.2 million in savings must be found over the next three years to balance the authority's finances.   The announcement, made at the full council meeting on 29 October 2026, represents a substantial deterioration in the financial outlook.  

30/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Visitor Levy Consultation In-person Events Announced

Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are encouraged to continue to take part in a series of public engagement events to learn more about the proposed Highland Visitor Levy and how they can contribute to the statutory public consultation.   In addition to the online webinars held earlier in the process, a programme of in-person events will continue throughout November.  

30/10/2026 : Local Authority

The Highland Council agrees budget engagement programme

Members of the public, community groups, the business sector and young people will be invited to share their views on how The Highland Council balances its budget and plans spend over the next three years.   The Council needs to find £39.2 million of additional savings over the next three years to deliver a balanced financial plan, driven largely by the impact of rising costs and the ongoing impact of wider economic events.