South Ayrshire Council News

Speakers pictured at the CIWM Conference

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan welcomed members of the Scottish Branch of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) members to the County Buildings in Ayr, where they held their Spring meeting.

The CIWM, founded over 100 years ago, has over 7,000 members who come from the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic and overseas, the organisation is the leading professional body for waste and resource management issues. The organisation focuses on providing information, training and support in all matters relating to waste production and management, regarding recycling or waste prevention.

Provost Sloan, who addressed the meeting, said: “The Chartered Institute of Waste Management sets the standard for people working in the waste management industry and it promotes the highest levels of professionalism amongst its members.

“There have been tremendous improvements in the last few years in the way that we deal with our municipal wastes, with European and domestic legislation requiring increasing amounts of waste to be diverted from landfill disposal in favour of recycling, composting and thermal treatment.

“Recycling rates in Scotland are rising in general and South Ayrshire has achieved a recycling rate of 41.1% for the latest recorded year, the first time that we have managed to achieve a recycling and composting rate of over 40%. This has been achieved by residents and the Council working together to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as we can.”

The delegates took part in a very full agenda that included presentations on:

• Keep Scotland Beautiful – Clean Communities.
• Clean Communities – Enforcement
• Community Partnerships for Environmental Improvement
• Maximising Recycling at Recycling Centres
• High Performing Recycling Centre

A visit to the Recycling Centre at Heathfield in Ayr, gave the delegates an opportunity to see the facility in operation.