Future of free bin bags in doubt

FREE black bin bags for every household in Shetland could soon become a thing of the past as the local authority continues on its austerity drive to balance its books.

Currently Shetland Islands Council is the only council in Scotland to provide 52 free bin bags to all homes at a cost of almost £25,000.

Next Wednesday Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee will be asked to throw that policy onto the waste heap, instead offering bin bags for sale at a knock down price.

Infrastructure director Maggie Sandison said the council is trying to save money by only paying for what it is legally bound to, which does not including free bin bags.

“We’re just at the stage of the year where we would be placing an order for the refuse sacks and it felt appropriate to present that back to councillors because it’s some years since they considered the issue,” she said.

“We are the only local authority that still provides refuse sacks and a lot of other authorities have gone over to fortnightly collections with recycling every other week.”

Shetland is one of just four councils that collects rubbish every week, though this service too is coming under review this year along with the whole of the council’s waste operation.

The SIC delivers 52 sacks a year to 10,500 households at a cost of almost £23,783, including shipping, the equivalent of one full time binman or woman.

It also takes 54 man days to deliver the sacks during which the council has to take on part time staff to provide cover.

As an alternative, Sandison is suggesting boxes of 52 bags be sold at the reduced price of £3.50 from the SIC’s Gremista depot and Charlotte House on Commercial Road.

Bulk quantities could be sold to rural shops to be sold at the same price to customers, she said.

At the moment the council charges £11 per box, but £3.50 would cover the purchase, shipping, storage and administration costs.