Call to reduce waste and save on landfill tax

The aim is  to help save money, protect services and support climate-friendly measures as the council faces new Scottish Government legislation as of December 2025, which means that no biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) can go to landfill sites.

In effect, it bans almost all biodegradable material (food, card, paper, garden waste etc) from landfill.

The council had requested that the Scottish Government grant a derogation to landfill until its PPP contract concludes in 2026, but since a commitment hasn’t be secured, the only option is to switch from mechanical biological treatment plants (MBTs) to waste transfer stations in Oban, Lochgilphead and Dunoon.

This will cost in the region of £1.5m to set up.

Landfill tax currently costs the council around £3m each year.

Over the next few months, starting in July, the council will contact everyone with a second general waste green bin, at their home, to check they are still needed.

Households are eligible for a second green general waste bin if:

• There are five or more people in the house
• Someone in the household has a medical condition which means more waste is generated

If they are eligible, the additional bin will be uplifted as usual.

If the household does not meet those criteria, it will be informed when the additional uplift will stop, once the review is complete at the start of 2025.

Information on what can be recycled, where you live, is available on the council website: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/recycling 

Second blue bins, for recycling plastic, paper, cartons, tins etc, are available free to households.