Recycle for West Lothian Pilot Scheme
The pilot will take place in Linlithgow Bridge and parts of Armadale over five months from 16th October 2023.
The pilot scheme aims to tackle contamination within recycling bins by helping to educate residents on what can and can't be placed in their recycling bins. Contamination is any items which should not be present in the recycling bin, such as food waste, dirty containers, glass, nappies, textiles, or items which should be placed in another bin. These items can't always be separated or cleaned meaning not all of the material can be recycled, which is more expensive to dispose of and less environmentally friendly.
More information can be found in the Recycling Pilot Scheme Press Release (opens new window).
The team will be out in the areas on blue/green collection days checking bins for contamination and tagging any bins which contain the wrong materials. If your bin isn't emptied and has received a tag on the handle please take your bin back in, remove the contamination and present your bin on your next scheduled collection day. Additional collections will not be provided for contaminated bins. Should you have any additional waste this can be disposed of at your local Community Recycling Centre.
Check what you can and can't recycle in your blue and green bins by visiting the I have a green and a blue bin page.
Results
From the first visit to Linlithgow and Armadale assessing blue and green bins it was clear that many people are confused about a few common items.
1. Pizza Boxes/Takeaway Containers
Although they may be made from cardboard if the box is greasy or covered in sauce it can't be recycled as it clogs up machinery during the recycling process. Greasy boxes should therefore be placed in the grey bin and any food waste should be removed and disposed of in the brown bin.
2. Cartons (Tetrapak)
They may seem like card but actually have a lining on them to prevent the liquid seeping through. Due to this composition cartons should therefore be placed in the Green bin, with any liquid emptied out beforehand.
3. Crisp Packets
Crisp packets cannot be recycled in the blue or green bins as they contain a mix of foil and plastic and are usually greasy on the inside, they therefore have to be disposed of in the grey bin.
4. Blister Packets
Although made of plastic the type of plastic is too rigid to be recycled in your kerbside bins and should be disposed of in your grey bin.
5. Hangers
Hangers of any kind cannot be recycled in any of your recycling bins as the plastic is to rigid and is mixed with the metal hook on the top, they should therefore be reused or disposed of in your grey bin. 
6. Stackable Crisp Tubes
Due to the mix of materials within these tubes (plastic, foil, metal and cardboard) unfortunately they are not recyclable in either the blue or green bins and must be disposed of in the grey bin.
7. Bagged Waste
Please place materials into your recycling bins loose and not in plastic/paper bags, even if the material inside the bag is clean and recyclable we cannot accept waste inside bags. This is because causes problems with machinery at the recycling facility and has to be picked out by hand meaning all your good recycling in the bag is disposed of rather than recycled. please empty materials out of the bag into your bin to ensure your recycling doesn't go to waste.
Pilot Scheme Areas
The areas within the pilot scheme are:
| Armadale | Linlithgow Bridge |
|---|---|
DROVE ROAD BURNS AVENUE SHAW AVENUE MCCALLUM COURT BIRKENSHAW WAY DENHOLM GROVE WOODEND WALK HONEYMAN COURT MILLBURN CRESCENT GLENWOOD DRIVE GLENSIDE GARDENS BURNSIDE AVENUE COWDENHEAD CRESCENT CAMERON PLACE BOAR STONE VIEW BUTTRIES VIEW WOODHEAD GROVE - Except flats WEST END & A89 to Blackridge AVONDALE TERRACE WESTERMAINS THE BEECHES WEST MAIN STREET GLENVIEW TERRACE - Except Flats MANSE AVENUE DELL AVENUE HAILSTONES CRESCENT MILL ROAD EASTERTOUN GARDENS GLENSIDE COURT GLEN ROAD SHAW PLACE | CHALMERS HALL (MAIN STREET) KETTIL'STOUN GROVE KETTIL'STOUN MAINS KETTIL'STOUN CRESCENT KETTIL'STOUN COURT MAINS ROAD ASHLEY COURT FALKIRK ROAD (Except Old School Court) FIRDENE PARK FIRDENE LANE LENNOX GARDENS HIGHFIELD CRESCENT HIGHFIELD AVENUE PHILIP AVENUE JOCKS HILL CRESCENT ASHLEY HALL GARDENS ST NINIAN'S ROAD ST NINIANS WAY BROOMYHILL PLACE (Except flats) JUSTINHAUGH DRIVE KETTIL'STOUN ROAD AVON DRIVE (Except flats) HILLTOPS MAIN STREET inc. Gallowsknowe MILLERFIELD BELSYDE COURT MILL ROAD LITTLE MILL COTTAGE BRAEWELL GARDENS WATERSIDE AVONMILL VIEW LISTLOANING ROAD LISTLOANING PLACE AVALON GARDENS CLARK AVENUE AVALON PLACE LOVELLS GLEN AVONMILL ROAD (Except flats) TELFORD PLACE TELFORD VIEW AVONTOUN PARK |
