Zero Waste Scotland has revealed that Argyll and Bute households could be doing more to support climate change, according to a recent study.

Waste composition analyses in Islay and Oban show that 10 per cent of trash in general green bins could have gone into blue recycling bins.

These items included paper, card, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, and cans.

The analysis showed that 20 per cent of what was found in the blue bins sampled should not have been there such as soft plastic film, glass, textiles and materials that were contaminated with food.

Over 50 per cent of materials found in green bins could have potentially been recycled if the council offered additional kerbside collections for food or garden waste.

Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Road, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “I’d like to thank our households and communities for everything they do.

"Every item we keep out of the waste stream, and send for recycling, saves valuable natural and financial resources now and in the long-term.

“What the analyses from Zero Waste Scotland have highlighted is that we need to get better at putting the right things into our recycling bins. If we can crack that, it’s another easy step on our recycling journey."

There is currently an exemption within the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 on collecting food waste in areas with a population of under 10,000.

All major settlements in Argyll and Bute, other than Helensburgh, sit below this level.

In 2021, the council couldn’t afford the £2m which was needed to provide food recycling right across Argyll and Bute

Food waste makes up over 20 per cent of the contents of general waste bins, which could be cut through reducing the amount of food waste produced or by home composting.