RECYCLING roadshows are set to hit Ayrshire in a bid to promote the new services put in place by South Ayrshire Council.

Communities are being introduced to the roadshows this January and are being given the chance to find out more about the new recycling service that has been supported by Zero waster Scotland.

Annbank, Barassie and Loans, along with other parts of Ayr and Prestwick and a number of rural properties between Ayr and Maybole, can come along to the roadshows to understand what exactly is being put in place and the changes that will be in operation.

Commencing from February 2019, two new bins will be used to collect 'Paper, Card and Cardboard', and 'Glass Bottles and Jars', while blue bins will be changing to 'Metals, Plastics and Cartons'.

This stage of the campaign will be introduced to around 9,500 properties across an array of towns and villages who have all been informed of the changes. The enhanced collection schedule between now an April 2019 will continue with most of the new bins being delivered in November of last year.

Councillor Ian Cochrane, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “The roadshows were a good opportunity to find out more, more than half of South Ayrshire is already using the new system and we're working hard to increase the quality of the recycling collected while also increasing the amount of materials recycled.

"Our recycling rate rose by 5% to 55.2% last year and this new service will help us to improve that further to meet national targets, while cutting the amount of contaminated waste.

"To make sure people get the most out of the service, we've been working closely with communities in the last few months with one of the main issues highlighted involving the potential to use shared communal bins, which is an option we're happy to discuss with anyone that feels they may have an issue."

The latest recycling roadshows are scheduled to be held in January are as follows;

Monday 7 at Muirhead Activity Centre between 7-9pm

Tuesday 8 at Maybole Speakers Club between 2-4pm

Wednesday 9 at Annbank Village Hall between 10am-12noon

Thursday 10 at Heathfield Primary School between 6-8pm

Monday 14 at Loans Village Hall between 10am-12noon

For more information please log onto https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/newrecycling/ or call 0300 123 0900. Emails can be sent to customerservices@south-ayrshire.gov.uk