BIN collection day calendars have been sent out to households across Argyll and Bute.

For most areas, there is no change to the days bins are emptied, or how often. The new calendars are to replace the existing ones, which are due to run out.

Calendars are being sent now to households to last them the next 12 months. Look out for them arriving in Bute, Cowal, Kintyre, Mid Argyll and Tiree. Oban, Mull, Helensburgh and Lomond calendars will be sent at a later date.

In Mid Argyll, some changes have been made to improve the service people receive.

It will see the days general waste bins and recycle bins are emptied split into two days.

General waste will be collected on Tuesdays from 3 October, every three weeks, and recycling bins emptied fortnightly from Thursday 5 October.

Splitting the days general and recycling waste is collected makes resources available to collect recyclable waste directly from your blue bin, avoiding the need for this waste to be bagged.

Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, Councillor Roddy McCuish, said: “Other than Mid Argyll, where a small number of households have had their collection date changed, there is no change. Your service is exactly the same, we’re simply updating you with a new collection calendar for 2017/18. We’ll still empty your recycling bins every two weeks.

“The amount of waste being recycled continues to increase – it has grown every year and is set to rise even further this year.

“In 2014, you recycled 15,655 tonne of waste, in 2015 it was 17,514 tonnes and last year it was 18,188 tonnes, and I expect even more to go to recycle instead of landfill this year.

“Thanks to everyone for supporting our efforts to reduce waste and recycle more – we’re delighted residents are working with us.

“The more waste we recycle, the more money we save. That means more money to protect the services that we know are important to people, such as improving our road network, delivering the best education for our young people and investing in regeneration projects that boost employment and our economy.

“It costs £86.10 per tonne in tax to send waste to landfill, so it quickly mounts up. If we can recycle that waste instead, it benefits us all in times of financial challenge.

 “We are completely committed to waste prevention, minimisation, and recycling, and we appreciate Argyll and Bute residents doing their bit to help look after important services and our environment at the same time.”