Increased Landfill Tax and Landfilling Tipping charges has resulted in South Ayrshire Council having to increase their charges for the collection and disposal of commercial waste by 9% as from 1 April 2006.

A blue blue bin recycling service will be introduced for businesses to dispose of their waste, similar to the one used by householders in South Ayrshire. Troon has been selected to trial the new blue bin commercial waste system as from 1 April 2006. Other areas in South Ayrshire will have the service progressively phased in during 2006/07.

The increase in charges has been necessary due to the increase in Landfill Tax and Landfilling Tipping charges. Landfill Tax is being increased from £18.00 to £21.00 per tonne as from 1 April 2006 for the financial year 2006/07.

The Convener of the Council's Commerical and Business Services Committee, Councillor Alistair Kerr said: "The blue bin recycling service for commercial waste customers will allow businesses to recycle their paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles in one container, and should reduce the amount of landfill required for commercial waste.

"The Scottish Government provided funding for the household waste recycling system, but will not provide additional funding for the recycling of business waste, and has said that any increase in costs of recycling should be borne by the commercial premises themselves.

"The Council hopes that by introducing an 'alternating recycling' service similar to the household system, it will not increase the costs for commercial premises, and could result in a reduction of costs for their businesses.

"All local authorities are affected by the increased charges for disposal of waste in landfill sites. The 9% increase in the commercial waste charges for residual waste collection, which is destined for landfill, should meet any additional costs incurred by the Council in setting up the new commercial system.

"The provision of a new blue bin recycling service for businesses, which will also be available to schools, will demonstrate the Council's commitment to support local based businesses and the progressive approach being taken by the Council and will further increase the Council's recycling rate.

"I hope that businesses will embrace the new system once it reaches their area and join with householders who 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' to help the environment."

The sale of the contents of the blue bins waste will generate income for the Council, so commercial blue bin collections will be charged at 20% less than residual commercial bins, the contents of which are destined for landfill disposal This should encourage commercial premises to recycle more of their waste, and may result in a saving for the premises if they fully engage in the blue bin service. In the same way that householders sort their waste businesses will have to separate out their paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles into separate bins.

Other commercial waste recycling services for glass and cardboard also result in income from the sale of the waste materials, so there will be no increase in the charges for these services to further promote and encourage recycling within the commercial and business community.

In order to encourage recycling of commercial waste by the Council's clients, no increase in the charges for recycling services is proposed.

February 2006