Frustrated residents of Nairn have hit at those piling up their glass bottles at an overflowing recycling point.
Dozens and dozens of bottles are piled up at Co-op on the High Street in Nairn, which the council says is due to vehicle breakdowns and the usual festive collection disruption.
Other recycling points at Home Bargains and at the bottom of Harbour Street are also said to be overflowing.
Photos of the Co-op bottle bank were shared online – asking why would-be recyclers just didn’t take their bottles away when they realised the points were full.
People annoyed at residents continuing to leave bottles
Councillor Paul Oldham was contacted by a resident about the issue on Tuesday and contacted Highland Council who appeared to be aware about the issue.
Workers from the council were sent out today to help clear the bottles until the banks can be emptied.
Mr Oldham said: “It’s a bad combination that the collection will have been delayed and of course everybody has just had Christmas so there’s a lot of bottles being put out for collection.
“What’s interesting to me is that people are annoyed and a good thing actually is that people are not annoyed at the council, they’re annoyed at the residents for doing this, for not taking an responsible attitude and coming back another time.
“I think people are quite understandable that there’s going to be some pressure on the bottle banks over Christmas.”
He said this was reflected in a lot of the comments posted online and added: “Just hang on to it for a week or so.
“Certainly, if you turn up a bottle bank and find it’s full, try another bottle bank or just come back again another time.”
Working on ‘swift resolution’
The council said this was happening in various locations across the area including Lochaber.
They said the increased need for glass recycling over the holidays coupled with the glass collection company, Biffa, experiencing problems with vehicle breakdowns had worsened the issue.
The Council would like to apologise that some glass banks across the region are full. If your local glass bank is full, please avoid leaving your glass by the banks – take it away with you until the banks have capacity. Nairn and Lochaber areas are a priority to be emptied. pic.twitter.com/1MknFLzBlj
— The Highland Council (@HighlandCouncil) January 4, 2023
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council’s glass collection contractor is experiencing issues with glass bottle bank emptying across the region due to vehicle breakdowns which has been exasperated by the seasonal increase in glass recycling demand over the festive period.
“The council and the contractor are working hard to find a swift resolution. In the meantime the council asks if your local glass bottle bank is full, please avoid leaving your glass by the banks – take it away with you until the banks have capacity.
“Nairn and Lochaber areas will be prioritised. Further updates will be provided as soon as is possible.”
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