Moving waste from Skye to a landfill site near Falkirk resulted in one of the costliest disposals in Scotland, according to Highland Council.
Environmental services chairman John Laing said almost 8.000 tonnes were transferred last year because the island's landfill site closed in March 2007.
Transporting rubbish more than 200 miles was deemed a cheaper option than extending the site's life. Mr Laing said a more environmentally-friendly local solution was needed. Factors contributing to the cost of moving rubbish off the island include contractor fees and landfill taxes.
Efforts to curb the amount of waste having to be dumped include the possibility of burning it at a small-scale energy from waste (EfW) plant, which would provide heat to a number of properties.
Mr Laing said he suspected the cost of dealing with Skye's waste was higher than that for Inverness. With a population of 71,579 Inverness has about 59,000 more people than live in Skye and Lochalsh.
Why on earth did a council allow a landfill site to be closed without making sensible alternative arrangements for the disposal of rubbish? Highland and Islands council often complain that their overspend is due to the geography of their area, but they can't make that an excuse in this case. This is just incompetence - plain and simple. As for the green issue I won't go there.
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24 comments:
Don’t worry about it.
Our esteemed Highland Council have hired a team of the finest ‘Consultants’ money can buy. (translate that as ‘extortionately expensive’). They will sit around chewing the fat, collecting their fees and produce a report sometime in 2010 which will prove –
1. The Council is a collection of ‘numpties’
[aside: What is the collective noun for a group of ‘numpties?]
2. The rubbish should never have been removed from Portree in the first place.
This is but a short interlude in idyllic Highland life. Grrrr
JRB - suggestion
A Pillock of Numpties?
The collective noun is "A Thicket of Numpties"
subrosa,
Whilst agree with JRB I feel I should point out that the islands have a tradition of dumping their rubbish on the south. Why do you think I'm down here.....
WV is foolem - Iain Gray's election slogan.
A Labour of Numpties
Not so long ago I used to do a lot of driving from here to the Netherlands and had to cross Belgium.
Naturally I took Bugger Lugs (see photo on left) with me and he infallibly left several "crottes" in Belgium en transit.
It was my estimation that no-one would ever notice them in Belgium.
JRB, why do the electorate vote for such fools to run their council? They're constantly in the news because of financial discrepancies etc.
I too can't understand why the rubbish was moved, there are plenty places around Portree I would have thought.
I can only come up with a Bevy of Numpties. You two did so much better than that. (Clarinda and LotF)
I thought you were down here because you'd been expelled or as you told me 'surplus to requirements'.
So now we're told the truth brownlie!
Do I detect a slight disregard for Belgium BL?
subrosa,
It interesting in your poll, that those who prefer more powers, not independence, only slightly out-number those who would prefer the status quo. Food for thought for the Calman Commission perhaps?
The dearest rubbish? Hmm. Not while the present Cabinet are around. A slurry of numpties they are, putting it mildly.
Yes it is Brownlie and that's surprised me. Of course supporters of independence have been the main group of voters but I'm sure quite a few of my English readers have voiced an opinion too.
So that's a tenuous slurry of numpties then Jim? I thought so.
Ach aye, the costly eviction of the rubbish on an t-Eilean Sgiathanach
or is that Eilean a Cheo these days.
The mind would boggles at the costs of it all if those Bridge tolls had still been in operation, that's for sure.
...and the Bank of America would have purloined "Where there's muck there's brass",
..and registered it as their exclusive trademark, no doubt.
But wait a minute. Is not the island a touristy place?
...and don't the visitors leave their rubbish behind them when they depart from the place.
...and it mentioned the costs of private contractors.
Now I hope that doesn't give yon Bank of America the idea of having another go at invested in the island again.
Mind you, all things are relative.
Particulary when you consider the costs incurred of sending south rubbish from all over the union to Westmidden and the maintenance, storage and recycling of same.
So who are we to condemn the Cooncil when they send their rubbish south at such an obscene cost.
When we do the same, ourselves.
There's nothing wrong with Belgium. Hercule Poirot comes from there.
I think it's a "Parliament" of numpties btw.
After all they crow a lot.
On the list for Worlds thinest books;
No2
Famous Belgians
Hercule Poirot
Tin Tin
King Baudoin
The first two are works of fiction and the other really doesn't have a country anymore.
... and further more, he's dead BL... but it's a great name don't you think.
Actually, I've got a dear freind who was born and raised in Brussels. She one of the loveliest, kindest people I know, so it's not all bad.
Tris
I now my way about Belgium and quite like Bruxelles but, the southern French part is abominable and possibly one of the most corrupt areas of the EU. That bis why the northern Dutch part wants to quit and why there are now two Belgiums.
The food in Bruxelles is as good as Paris, as much money there but more concentrated, and the service is more professional.
Have you ever driven the road from Valenciennes to Cologne? The Belgian part is an international disgrace as the road is degraded, badly laid out and poorly maintained. It is or should be one of the principal road arteries of the EU. Instead is a motoring mess that would make New York proud.
Wisnaeme, surely the BoA had enough last time when they were sent off wi' their tail atween their legs?
Your analogy is great but I have to say I'd take the can of irn bru anytime. Let the rest of the rubbish continue southwards. :)
I too have friends in Belgium but it's always seemed a miss-mash of a place.
Don't know if I have driven on that road BL, but if it was the one into Germany then there's a good chance I've done it a few times.
Mind you, that's back in the dark ages ;)
That road is still in the Dark Ages.
NEVER drive in winter when it is icy, especially at night or when it is raining as the road does not drain well and there are pot holes in it.
I doubt if I'll ever drive it again FC, my days of driving for 24 hours at a time are long gone but oh, it's the enthusiasm and energy of youth I miss at times.
What about a pose of numpties (as in cowboys)?
Ok, ok, was only a thought!
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