Area Introduction

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CNES) is the local authority covering the whole of the Western Isles waste area.

The AWP sets out the best practicable environmental option (BPEO) for the management of the area’s MSW. This calls for:

• Promoting the prevention of MSW at source through practical support and education
• Widespread participation in segregated kerbside recycling collection schemes and home composting
• Expanding the network of bring sites
• Promoting community-led reduction and recycling initiatives
• Centralised anaerobic digestion and composting plants
• Developing a materials recovery facility (MRF) to recover recyclable and biodegradable materials
• Developing local reprocessing capacity for paper and glass.

The AWP sets targets of 30% anaerobic digestion/composting and 7% recycling of MSW by 2010, with the remainder going to landfill. By 2020, it calls for 42% anaerobic digestion/composting, 10% recycling and 48% landfilling. Most of the area’s MSW is currently sent to the local authority’s two landfill sites. In 2002/03, 6% was recycled and none was composted. Local recycling facilities have been expanded and community initiatives are being introduced.

Funding awards to CNES from the Scottish Executive will help to develop the infrastructure necessary to meet the AWP’s targets. Local Waste Aware campaigns and activities led by CNES waste education officers will seek to change attitudes to waste.