Perth and Kinross Council will roll out 50,000 ‘smaller’ household refuse bins next month in a bid to cut costs, it has been revealed.
The move, which is being replicated across the county, was piloted in late 2014 in the Oakbank and Western Edge areas of the city as well as Auchterarder and Aberuthven.
It saw 140-litre slim-line residual waste bins replace the normal 240-litre ones previously used by residents.
The local authority has stated that the frequency of refuse collections will not change and the new bins will be supplied in a phased initiative.
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council yesterday said that results of the pilot project showed a 27% reduction in general waste uplift at the kerbside and a 22% increase in kerbside recycling.
“The service change was shown to have a positive influence on household behaviour, with the majority of respondents (68%) stating that participating in the trial encouraged them to recycle more,” she said.
And the spokesman confirmed the smaller bins will now be supplied to more than 50,000 homes, over a phased 23-month period.
“The roll-out of the new household waste and recycling service to over 50,000 households in Perth and Kinross will commence in February,” she added.
“Householders will receive a 140-litre slim-line residual waste bin to replace the 240-litre bin they currently have for residual waste. The frequency of collection will not change.
“The improved recycling service will be rolled out in eight phases to all householders in Perth and Kinross on the three-bin kerbside recycling service, over a 23-month period.”
A spokesman for Zero Waste Scotland said: “We advise councils on options for running efficient, high-performing recycling collections which reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
“However, it is for local authorities to decide what works best for their circumstances.
“The efforts of councils and others continue to increase Scotland’s recycling rate and our reliability on landfill is at an all-time low.”
Legislative targets, set by the Scottish Government, require a household waste recycling rate of 60% by 2020.
The recycling and composting rate for Perth and Kinross Council is in excess of 50%.
However, the council spokesman said this rate has “plateaued” in recent years.
Councillor Alexander Stewart, who represents Perth City South, said of the roll out: “I appreciate that the pilot project was carried out in Oakbank and the Western Edge and showed a very positive outcome but I have concerns that in other areas it may not be so well received.”