OPPORTUNITIES FOR recycling household waste in Perth and Kinross have expanded this month, with the opening of more new recycling points and an increase in the types of waste that can be recycled.

Two new recycling points have been set up in Coupar Angus and Auchterarder, taking the number across the district to 73. The new points are at Scotmid, George Street, Coupar Angus and at Auchterarder Park.

Both points accept paper, glass and cans. A separate recycling container for telephone directories will also be available at Auchterarder Park.

Another four new recycling points are in the pipeline and will be announced in the next few months.

Other recent developments mean residents can recycle more of their household waste. Aerosol cans and aluminium foil can now be recycled along with food and drink cans at all recycling centres and points. Aerosols should be empty before being put in the recycling banks.

A pilot project in Perth to recycle drinks cartons is also proving popular. In conjunction with Tetra Pak Ltd and ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), the council has provided recycling containers for cartons at Tesco, Crieff Road, Tesco, Edinburgh Road, Asda, Dunkeld Road and Friarton Recycling Centre.

Over 2000kg of cartons have been collected in the last six months through the pilot scheme, with the January collection this year one of the highest recorded.

On average 2.3kg of cartons are generated per household per year, so the pilot has so far diverted the equivalent of 870 households worth of drinks cartons from landfill.

Once collected the cartons are taken away to be baled and transported to a recycling mill. They can be recycled into a number of different products, ranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags and envelopes.

Environment convener Councillor Alan Grant said, “It is very positive that the demand for recycling facilities is continuing to grow.

“We want to help residents recycle as much of their household waste as possible and providing recycling points and centres for local communities that accept a wide range of waste materials is a key part of this.

“The drink cartons scheme has also got off to an excellent start and I would encourage more residents to use this service so our collection levels will keep rising.”