By Aileen MacLennan
Argyll and Bute Council has repeated its request for a formal meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss a possible extension on the municipal solid waste landfill ban which is due to be implemented from 1 January 2026.
The introduction of the ban will mean that Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) can no longer go to landfill and instead will need to be recovered through a process called energy from waste.
The council is currently locked in to a landfill contract, which runs until September 2026 – nine months after the ban comes into force.
Varying or terminating that contract would have serious financial implications for the Council which could run into the hundreds of thousands – money that would need to come from existing budgets which would in turn affect other key services like roads, street lighting and so on.
The council is therefore urging the Scottish Government to delay the BMW ban in Argyll and Bute for nine months to coincide with the existing landfill contract’s end date and avoid huge financial penalties.
Council Leader Councillor Robin Currie – “We are working hard to put measures in place for the introduction of the ban.”
Council Leader Councillor Robin Currie said: “The introduction of the landfill ban will have many benefits, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that result from land filling biodegradable waste. We are working hard to put measures in place for the introduction of the ban, along with a whole range of actions the council is taking to combat the climate emergency.
“It makes sense to synchronise the date of the ban with the end of our current landfill contract. If the Scottish Government fails to grant this extension, the costs to council tax payers in Argyll and Bute will be significant, and will affect other essential council services.
“I urge the Scottish Government to meet with us as soon as possible so that we can discuss our options moving forward and agree a solution that works for Argyll and Bute.”
Meanwhile, Argyll and Bute Council is investing in the area’s bridge infrastructure after successfully securing £3.4 million from the Scottish Government’s highly competitive Local Bridge Maintenance Fund.
At a meeting of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee, members agreed to replace four bridges in Argyll and Bute, and to carry out strengthening works on a further five.
The council will replace the following bridges:
- A846-270 Glenegedale
- B844-010 Kilninver Bridge
- A816-120 Oude
- A849-280 Pennyghael Bridge
In addition, it will carry out strengthening works on:
- B840-140 Archonnell Bridge
- B842-010 Claonaig Bridge
- A815-230 Cothouse Bridge
- A849-280 Pennyghael Bridge
- B839-050 Lochgoilhead Bridge
The council’s Policy Lead for Roads and Infrastructure Services, Councillor Andrew Kain, pictured above right, said: “Argyll and Bute has a diverse and varied landscape and many of our key transport routes include bridges.
“This funding allocation will play a huge part in helping us to maintain these bridges and to keep Argyll and Bute moving. The programme will also bring benefits to our island communities, with two of the bridges that we are replacing situated on islands, thus helping to improve the islands transportation infrastructure.”