A CALL for greater outreach and communication to improve recycling practices and reduce contamination of bins has been issued by a Glasgow councillor.

During a recent environment and liveable neighbourhoods committee, where members were discussing the progress made in the council’s recourse and recycling strategy, Bailie Anthony Carroll who represents Dennistoun raised concerns about the number of people who might not know how to dispose of their waste properly.

Bailie Carroll said he had been made aware of issues in his ward as well as the West End where there is a high turnover of residents as the area is popular with students attending college and university. 

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It comes after a campaign to raise awareness on the implications of placing household hazardous items such as batteries, vapes and electronics into domestic bins was carried out in April last year.

A social media campaign was completed and it was highlighted that items like these have been previously responsible for fires within vehicles across the wider waste industry. 

During the committee, Baillie Caroll said: "Contamination is quite high in certain areas at flatted properties for example in Dennistoun and other areas like the West End where we have a high turnover of folk, particularly students, who might not know the different types bins and what does what.

"Communication is a key aspect and I wonder what we are doing to reach those particular communities who we might not reach through social media or links they do not follow."

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Council officers agreed that more information on what can be placed in each bin was needed. 

They said: "I think we are quite good at [communicating with residents] when we introduce a new service or make a service change but we need to do follow up communications.

"For residents in flats we need better data where that contamination is occurring but in general I 100% agree that what goes into each bin is definitely required."