WORKERS AT a Blairgowrie recycling project for people with learning disabilities are getting ready to recycle over half a million drinks cans recovered from this year’s T in the Park.

The Can-Able Recycling team worked hard from the festival weekend on July 8-9 until July 19 clearing the site of cans, which would have otherwise gone to landfill.

They worked in partnership with waste management company Binns Skips and contractor DC Site Services to pick up as many cans as they could at the Balado site.

Can-Able is run by Perth and Kinross Council’s Social Inclusion Team and offers a free pick-up service for aluminium and steel cans across Tayside, with regular customers including pubs, shops and businesses.

The project offers accredited training and work experience in the recycling industry for people with a learning disability.

The mountain of cans picked up at T in the Park is currently being processed at the Can-Able premises in Signal Box Road on Blairgowrie’s Welton Industrial Estate. From there they will go to Alloa, and then to Warrington for smelting.

The operation was a great success and Can-Able has already been asked to play a bigger part in the event next year. It also has plans to work with an international aid organisation in other recycling activities.

The project won the praise of housing and health convener councillor Gordon Hunter. He said, “I would like to congratulate Can-Able on their efforts at T in the Park. The amount of cans they picked up is astounding. This kind of work shows just how worthwhile projects like Can-Able are.

“Without their work these half-a-million tins would have gone to landfill. The event has enabled Can-Able to work in partnership, providing a commitment to environmental improvement.”