Council performs well on recycling rates

North Ayrshire Council has been ranked as the third-highest recycling local authority in Scotland.

The council has been listed in third place on a table of Scotland’s local authorities for household recycling in 2023.

Council staff and residents across the area have been praised for their efforts in ensuring the right waste goes into the right bin.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) recently released its annual report on household waste and the data shows the council area recycled 56.1 per cent of household waste during the calendar year for 2023.

This figure is up from 55.3 per cent in 2022, when the council sat in fourth place on the table.

Only two local authorities performed better last year – the Scottish Borders on 57.9 per cent and East Renfrewshire on 58.2 per cent.

The council's rate sits well above the national average of 43.5 per cent.

The council has four Household Waste Recycling Centres at Bartonholm in Irvine, Kilbirnie, Largs and Brodick. These accept a variety of items from batteries and cooking oil, to electricals and wood. See opening times and items that are accepted.

The council also works in partnership with Irvine-based charity Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company (CFRC).

This sees people donating unwanted furniture, mattresses and textiles that can be reused by others, cutting back on the number of items which are disposed of.

Recycling is a simple, yet essential part of solving the climate crisis. Every individual has the chance to make a difference, just by placing recyclable materials into the correct bin.

Simple things you can do help avoid contamination are rinsing your cans, bottles and food containers so that they don’t impact on other materials.

Items including electronics, vapes, batteries, nappies, textiles, plastic wrap and plastic bags are the main offenders when it comes to contaminating.

You can dispose of these items here:

Electronics – your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)

Vapes/Batteries – shops who sell these should take them back, most major supermarkets and recycling centres (except car batteries)

Nappies - grey bin

Textiles - Clothing banks, HWRCs and charity shops (if in good condition)

Plastic wrap and plastic bags - most major supermarkets take them now, otherwise - grey bin.