Demonstrators gathered outside a north-east recycling centre to protest against its proposed closure.
Aberdeenshire Council’s draft waste management strategy recommends that the Insch site be closed, meaning locals will have to load up their cars with recyclables and travel to one of the other locations.
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And although the authority has still to sign off the plans, locals fear they could lose their local centre for good.
Bennachie Community Council is now spearheading a campaign to persuade council chiefs to scrap the move.
On Saturday, about 100 people met outside the facility to protest the proposed closure.
Sarah Robinson, chairwoman of the community council, said: “We were very pleased with the turnout.
“The objective was to show our support for the centre and get some publicity for the cause, we are also working on a petition.
“Ever since the new waste management strategy was published we have been canvassing local opinion, this doesn’t just serve Insch but also surrounding communities like Premnay and Leslie.
“The consultation that came out was more focused on bin collections and we feel like this was swept under the carpet. It was included in the strategy document but when the questionnaire is solely about bins then it doesn’t give people the chance to respond to that.”
One of the main concerns is that the closure will have the opposite effect of the strategy’s goal of increasing recycling because people will have to travel to the alternative sites, which are all more than 10 miles away.
And the community council has also argued these extra journeys will drastically increase carbon emissions, which will off-set the environmental benefits of reducing waste.
The group also claims the potential closure has heightened concerns about fly-tipping among local farmers.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We are very interested in what residents think about these proposals, aimed at increasing the area’s recycling rate, and encouraged people to participate in our consultation and give their views.
“We even organised a public meeting in Insch to explain the proposals and give people a chance to give their views and we are well aware of local opinion at this point.
“It is heartening to see so much enthusiasm for recycling in any part of Aberdeenshire and we are considering all representations made ahead of a decision on the area’s future waste strategy.”
It is understood the strategy will be debated by the council’s infrastructure services committee later this month.
