A consultation is underway to help Orkney Islands Council plan how best to expand the current alternate weekly collection (AWC) of refuse and recyclable items to residents across the isles.
The AWC system was introduced in Westray in 2009. Shapinsay followed two years later and, from 2012 onwards, it was rolled out to communities across the Orkney Mainland and the linked South Isles of Burray and South Ronaldsay.
Survey forms have been sent to householders in Westray and Shapinsay asking for feedback on their current system, which involves the collection of refuse one week and items for recycling the next.
A questionnaire will also be sent to residents of the Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay for their views on how the system is working.
For people living in Papa Westray, Eday, Stronsay, Sanday, North Ronaldsay, Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre, Graemsay, Flotta, Hoy and Walls a separate questionnaire is being sent out to help the council in developing new proposals to provide the communities with an alternate weekly collection.
To give residents a further opportunity to take part in the consultation, a series of public meetings will be held in the North and South isles during March – with the dates to be announced soon.
Darren Richardson, head of Roads and Environmental Services, said: “Since the introduction of the alternate weekly collection, we’ve seen a steady reduction in the amount of waste shipped to Shetland for disposal.
“At the same time there has been a corresponding increase in the amount of recyclable items collected from the kerbside.
“We now want to look at how we might be able provide the rest of Orkney a similar opportunity to recycle closer to home. We’re offering residents the chance to help shape the service we provide in the various communities in the North and South Isles.
“So I’d encourage people to take the time to fill in the survey form they’ll receive – and come along to the public meetings in March to share their views and ideas with us.”