Western Isles residents now have the chance to help decide the fate of their rubbish. Like the rest of the country, the area has long relied on landfill sites, but things have to change. European rules mean the whole of Scotland is having to find alternatives to dumping. The Western Isles Waste Strategy Group is holding a series of meetings to let local people air their views on recycling, incineration and other issues at the beginning of December. In the next few months the group will have to make tough decisions on what the area is going to do with the 30,000 tonnes of rubbish it produces each year.

Susan Haslam of SEPA, who is co-ordinating the group's work, said: "We're all producers of waste, so it's vital that everyone has their say. We're going to be asking people if they'd be prepared to separate their rubbish to help recycling. We also want to know what they think about composting, incineration, reuse and a range of other important issues - like cost and distance."

There are a number of ways to find out more or get involved:

• Complete the questionnaire advert in the Stornoway Gazette on 22 November.
  
• Attend one of the drop in events to be held in Stornoway and Balivanich in December.
  
• Share your views with your local community council, which will automatically receive a copy of the consultation document. (Local businesses will also get a copy automatically.)
  
• Get a copy of the full consultation document and questionnaire supplement by phoning SEPA on 01349 860367, emailing westernisleswaste@sepa.org.uk or visiting www.sepa.org.uk - click here
  

The European Union requires that every member state produces a waste strategy. Scotland is split into 11 waste areas, each of which has to produce a plan detailing how waste will be managed in that area for the next 20 years. The members of the waste strategy group include public bodies, business, and environmental and community groups.

Notes to editors

1. For more information, interviews or photo opportunities please contact:

• Susan Haslam or Tom Anderson (chair of waste group) on 01349 862021 or email susan.haslam@sepa.org.uk
  
  
• Western Isles Council - Uisdean Fraser 01851 709249
  

2. Jpegs of waste related photos are available from Stewart Argo, Public Relations Officer by emailing stewart.argo@sepa.org.uk The photos feature collections of waste (eg bottles, cans, fly-tipping) and various stages in the waste management process (eg wheelie bin, bottle bank, landfill site).