CHANGES to commercial waste policies in Inverness and Aberdeen are set to affect scores of hospitality businesses, with new rules requiring them to keep waste indoors or face fines.
Highland Council’s new commercial waste plan for Inverness city centre, which will be enforced from April 9, will see businesses only allowed to leave their bins on the street during two morning and evening periods (7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm), for a maximum of two hours. The policy is similar to those currently implemented in Edinburgh and coming into force in Glasgow.
Businesses which do not comply will be liable to have their bins confiscated and given 28 days to collect them and pay a fine.
Bars and food-led businesses raised concerns about the collection periods at the consultation stage, saying such an arrangement will not suit opening hours and will mean food waste will have to be stored in venues overnight.
In Aberdeen, proposed changes to the city council’s commercial waste policy are less comprehensive.
If the proposals are approved, it will see the collection of waste between 12.30pm and 2.30pm prohibited, with no commercial waste containers permitted on the street between those times. A fine of £500 would be charged to businesses who do not follow the policy, with a further £150 charge for those which do not collect their containers within five working days.
