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School and Council Buildings Rubbish and Recycling Services

Why do schools/community centres need to separate waste?

There is a legal duty to separate materials for recycling, which SEPA is now enforcing. The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 make the following provisions:

  • Tri-bins
    All businesses, public sector and not-for-profit organisations are required to present metals, plastic, glass, paper and card (including cardboard) for separate collection from 1 January 2014.

  • Businesses (except in rural areas) which produce more than 5kg of food waste per week are required to present that food waste for separate collection from 1 January 2016.

Earthcare Bins
 Waste Services has previously worked with Facilities Management to provide free in-house rubbish and recycling bins to all Council buildings, including Council run nurseries and schools. However we no longer have a stock of these bins and therefore should your school or community centre require a replacement bin please discuss this with your facilities management team.

Please note: Facilities Management are responsible for the servicing of rubbish and recycling bins as part of the new cleaning service standards. Any replacement black bags, clear recycling sacks or food waste caddy liners should be ordered through Facilities Management staff.

How should waste be presented for collection?

In order for West Lothian Council to collect waste from schools/community centres we require that waste is separated and presented in a specific manner.  This is because our contractor, (Biffa) where we take all our recycling waste for disposal, requires it to be presented this way so they can separate materials for recycling and produce the best quality recycling with as little contamination (e.g. food, glue, glitter) as possible. For more information on what happens to your recycling check out our videos on the Recycling Downloads page.

Therefore waste must be separated in schools and community centres as follows:

MaterialCollection MethodDisposal Bin (Outside)
Paper and cardClear plastic sackBlue bin
Cans, metals and foilsClear plastic sackBlue bin
Plastic cartons/containersClear plastic sackBlue bin
Food wasteAny bag/food waste caddyGreen bin
Non-recyclable (landfill)Black bagBlack bin

Why is recycling in school important?

Space Buddies

It is important that we teach and encourage pupils to take care and responsibility for their surrounding environment and to help look after it in the future.  An increase in recycling is beneficial to the environment and contributes to several of the Eco-Schools topics including: Waste, Litter and Global citizenship. Schools can also benefit from reduced waste disposal costs - Commercial Waste Information.

Our Waste Officers are available to conduct a waste assembly or waste audit to promote the recycling services and can offer support and advice for teachers, Business Managers and other school staff. You can request a visit or more information through our Waste Education Online Enquiry Form.