SLCVO Blog 14 November 2025
- joford4
- Nov 14
- 6 min read
This Week’s Blog: Spotlight on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
This week, we’re shining a light on the important work of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Working Group, highlighting the work of local groups and looking at what we need to do next.
Why Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle?
Every item we throw away impacts our planet. By reducing what we buy, reusing what we can, and recycling responsibly, we cut waste, save energy, and protect natural resources.
Small changes—like repairing instead of replacing or choosing preloved items—add up to big wins for our environment and our communities
Following the successful Reduce, Reuse and Recycle event at Kyleakin Community Hall at the end of October, the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Working Group is taking the next step toward creating a more coordinated approach to waste reduction in Skye and Lochalsh.
In January, SLCVO will host the next working group meeting that will:
Build on existing efforts to minimise waste locally.
Develop a collaborative approach to designing and delivering future projects.
Strengthen partnerships between community groups, businesses, and local services.
If you want to learn more or get involved in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle activities in Skye and Lochalsh? We’d love to have you on board!
Contact Michelle Seviour at michelle.seviour@slcvo.org.uk
or visit https://www.slcvo.org.uk/working-with-groups-in-skye-and-lochalsh to find out how you can make a difference.
Meet the Local Heroes Tackling Waste in Skye and Lochalsh
Meet the incredible organisations working hard to reduce waste and promote sustainability in our communities. Here’s who they are, what they do, and how you can connect with them:
Charity Shops
Local charity shops like Crossroads Care Skye and Lochalsh, Blythswood, and Highland Hospice sell donated goods, raising funds for good causes while promoting reuse.
Crossroads Care: King’s House, The Green, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9BSPhone: 01478 612399
Blythswood
Quay Street, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9DE: Phone: 01478 612198
2 Harrapool, Broadford, Isle of Skye, IV49 9AQ Phone: 01471 820020
Highland Hospice Park Road, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EP: Phone: 01478 612960
Rag Tag and Textile
Based in Broadford, Rag Tag and Textile runs a charity shop and creative workshops, repurposing textiles and craft materials to reduce waste and support community projects.
Broadford & Strath Community Company
They run a Growers Hub for composting and growing food, and a community fridge. Their work reduces food waste and promotes sustainable living.
South Skye Men’s Shed
A social space where members repurpose wood and materials into useful items, reducing waste and fostering community connections.
Contact: southskyemensshed@gmail.com
Armadale Stores (Sleat Community Trust)
Offers refill services and acts as a collection point for blister packs and batteries, helping reduce packaging waste.
ILM Highland
A social enterprise specialising in electrical recycling and reuse. They run electrical amnesty events, repair donated goods, and operate a repair café.
Dunvegan Christian Fellowship Community Café
Hosts swap shop events and supports food redistribution through a community fridge and food bank collection point.
Dunvegan Community Trust
Operates a tool library, enabling people to borrow tools instead of buying new ones, reducing consumption and waste.
Am Fasgadh (Skye and Lochalsh Mental Health Association)
Runs a furniture project providing donated furniture to those in need and supporting upcycling initiatives.
Portree & Braes Community Trust
Manages allotments and composting projects, encouraging local food growing and reducing food waste.
Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust
Runs the Lochalsh Reuse and Recycle Hub, offering repair services and a community fridge to reduce landfill waste.
Small Businesses
The Selkie Collective – Offers refill services and ethical goods.
Shore to Floor – Crafts mats from discarded fishing ropes, turning waste into useful products.
The Highland Council - Building a Greener Future for Communities
Managing waste responsibly is a vital part of tackling climate change and protecting our environment. The Highland Council is working hard to improve recycling services and support a shift towards a circular economy—where resources are reused, repaired, and repurposed instead of ending up in landfill. From new infrastructure and local processing to community funding and engagement, these efforts are helping reduce emissions and create a more sustainable future for everyone.
Funding and Infrastructure - The Highland Council has invested significantly in improving recycling services, thanks to £7.1 million from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund. This funding enabled the rollout of a three-bin household collection system across the region, separating paper and cardboard, plastics and tins, and general waste. This infrastructure upgrade is a key step toward reducing landfill and supporting a circular economy.
Current Challenges - Despite improvements, challenges remain. Around 36% of general waste in household bins could actually be recycled or composted, including food and drink items still in their packaging. Incorrect sorting also leads to contamination, which reduces the effectiveness of recycling and increases the amount of waste sent for disposal.
Processing - All household recycling collected in Highland is now processed within Scotland, reducing transport emissions and supporting local facilities. Paper and cardboard are sent to Glasgow, plastics and tins go to Wyllie Recycling in Perthshire, and general waste is treated at Viridor’s Energy Recovery Facility in Dunbar, where it is converted into electricity for the national grid.
Strategic Goals - Scotland has set an ambitious target to achieve Net Zero by 2045, and recycling plays a vital role in reducing emissions. The Highland Council is prioritising three key waste streams: food waste, which accounts for 36% of non-recyclable bin content; electrical items, which are a fast-growing category of waste; and textiles, where previous export routes have ceased, creating a gap that needs innovative solutions.
Building a Circular Future in Skye and Lochalsh: Insights from the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Event
On 29th October 2025, community groups, small businesses, and local agencies came together at Kyleakin Hall for the Skye and Lochalsh Reduce, Reuse, Recycle event. Organised by SLCVO in partnership with Rag Tag and Textile, the event marked an important step toward creating a stronger circular economy in our region.
The day was packed with discussion, mapping exercises, and solution-focused conversations. Participants explored what’s working well, where the gaps lie, and how we can collaborate to make waste reduction more effective and sustainable.
What Are the Challenges?
Community groups face significant hurdles when running projects that reduce waste. Funding and running costs remain a major concern, alongside the need for volunteers and accessible storage space. Rurality adds complexity, with long distances and transport costs making logistics harder. Legal compliance and safety requirements also add pressure.
For individuals, barriers include lack of clear information, time constraints, and the perception that second-hand goods are of lower quality. Convenience and cost often tip the scales toward buying new, while stigma and consumer culture make reuse less appealing. Access issues—such as transport—further limit engagement.
Key Themes Emerging
Three themes stood out during the event:
Communication and Education- Clear, positive messaging is essential to help people understand what can be recycled and where. Targeted engagement with young people and harder-to-reach groups will be key.
Prioritisation - The Highland Council highlighted food waste, textiles, and electricals as priority areas. Focusing on these could deliver quick wins and measurable impact.
Collaboration - There’s a strong appetite for partnership working—sharing skills, pooling resources, and coordinating efforts. Collaboration could also strengthen funding bids and make projects more sustainable.
Ideas for Action
Participants suggested practical steps, including creating a Skye and Lochalsh Reduce Reuse Recycle directory to improve information sharing, organising pop-up swap events inspired by Torrin’s Waste Not initiative, and offering PAT testing for electrical items in partnership with ILM Highland.
What Happens Next?
SLCVO will work with Highlands & Islands Climate Hub to formally establish a working group and explore funding opportunities such as the Highland Council Reuse and Repair Fund. A more comprehensive mapping exercise will follow, ensuring young people and harder-to-reach communities are included.
Read the full vent report here: https://www.slcvo.org.uk/working-with-groups-in-skye-and-lochalsh
Where to Find More Information on Recycling and Reuse in Scotland
If you’re looking for practical ways to reduce waste and embrace a circular economy, Scotland offers a wealth of resources to help you recycle, reuse, and repair. From national directories to local initiatives, these websites provide guidance, tools, and inspiration for individuals, businesses, and community groups.
Recycle for Scotland – Zero Waste Scotland
Visit: zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/recycle-scotland This is Scotland’s go-to resource for recycling advice. It includes a handy locator tool to find out how to recycle specific items and offers tips on reducing, reusing, and repairing.
Net Zero Nation – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Visit: netzeronation.scot Practical guides on reducing consumption, repairing, and reusing items, plus links to networks like Share and Repair and Revolve.
Reuse – Zero Waste Scotland
Visit: zerowastescotland.org.uk/topics/reuse Focuses on reuse initiatives, second-hand shopping, and repair cafés. Includes details on Revolve, Scotland’s reuse quality standard.
Repair and Upcycle – Net Zero Nation
Visit: netzeronation.scot Guides and resources for repairing and upcycling items, plus information on the Share and Repair Network and Circular Communities Scotland
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