Frequently Asked Questions
Q - What is the purpose of Go Greener? - See our glossary terms Click here
A - Go Greener's purpose is to mobilise the residents of East Renfrewshire in order to make a contribution towards reducing greenhouse gases and improving the local environment.
Q - What does it hope to achieve?
A - Go Greener hopes to increase the number of people who recycle, compost, use energy efficient appliances (lightbulbs etc) as well as encouraging green transport and alternative energy.
Q - Why should we aim to do these things?
A - As responsible residents we have a duty to help reduce the threat of global warming by our actions. Failure to do so will result in a planet much more difficult to survive on for future generations.
Q - How will it achieve these aims?
A - On its own Go Greener cannot change the world. However, we can lead by example and in doing so, show to others throughout Scotland and further afield that people determined to change their lifestyles can do so and affect their environment positively.
Q - What can I do to play my part?
A - Get a compost bin, recycle, get an energy efficient house, save power by turning off appliances not in use, use energy efficient light bulbs, use real nappies, take a bag to the supermarket and not use their plastic bags, get involved in a community project, just talk to people about the need to be responsible for where we live - and join Go Greener!
Q - Who's involved?
A - We have a large variety of people from school students to senior citizens, from doctors to joiners, young mums to millionaires, all interested in helping us to change the way we live.
Q - How can I get involved?
A - Leave your details on the contact us page of the website and we'll keep you informed of future events.
Q - Can tetrapak cartons be recycled? Where are they collected and what happens to them?
A - Tetrapaks can be recycled in East Renfrewshire but only by taking them to specific local recycling points:
Tesco car park, Barrhead
Muirend Pavilions car park, Muirend
Broomvale shops car park, Newton Mearns
Rouken Glen Garden Centre car park, Giffnock
The council recognize that this is a limited service but it has been rolled out to these locations on a trial basis.
Once collected by the council's partners, Shanks Waste Solutions, the tetrapaks are bulked, baled and shipped to Sweden where the paper is made into lining for plasterboard. The aluminium and polythene are separated from the paper fibre and are used in furniture, to generate energy or even sorted out into pure aluminium and paraffin. There are no reprocessing facilities in the UK.
To find out more visit www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk.
Q - Recycling plastics is confusing. What can be recycled? What happens to collected plastics?
A - There are many types of plastics that can be recycled in East Renfrewshire. As a basic rule the council only collect food and drink containers: all bottles (including drinks, cleaning products, toiletries), margarine tubs, yoghurt pots and food trays- provided they are not foam or polystyrene- can be recycled Plastics are classified by type and number. They accept Types 1, 2, 3, and 4 but do not accept low-grade plastics such as carrier bags, bin liners and plastic films.
Please note that they only accept containers which means that they do not collect plastic toys, hangers, plant pots, garden furniture etc. If in doubt, leave it out!
East Renfrewshire Council offers a monthly kerbside recycling service for plastic containers through its Green Bag scheme. Residents can obtain a Green Bag by calling Customer First on 0141 577 3001 or by completing a web-form on www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/recycler
Plastics are bulked and baled locally and then shipped within the UK and overseas wherever market demand is strong. Plastics will be recycled into new plastic and clothing items. For example, kerbside recycling boxes and wheeled bins used by East Renfrewshire Council have recycled plastic content.
Q - Why are only drinks bottles and milk cartons accepted at local recycling points?
A - Prior to the introduction of the plastics kerbside recycling service, the council’s contractor only accepted drinks bottles and milk cartons. Now they accept all plastics described above. However at present, due to the fact that recycling points are operating at capacity, it has been decided not to advertise that these additional items are accepted. It is early days for the kerbside service and it could be that this will reduce plastics delivered to recycling points. The council is monitoring usage of recycling points closely and will advise if and when it is suitable to deposit all kinds of plastics containers.
Q - If local recycling points are operating at capacity, why does the Council not add more recycling containers or develop additional sites?
A - There are 11 local recycling points throughout the area. In an ideal world, there would be more. However, East Renfrewshire is largely residential and there are few obvious locations for recycling points. Many residents do not want to live close to a recycling point and would not condone development. In terms of increasing the number of containers at each site, all current facilities are located in car parks and any expansion would be at the expense of parking spaces which is also largely opposed. If you have any innovative ideas on how facilities might be expanded, please advise the council of your suggestion through Let Us Know.
The council has recently placed a new point at Fairweather Hall car park in Newton Mearns and is currently considering recycling point development at the Busby Road lay-by.