NEW purple recycling bins will start arriving at households on the mainland and Cumbrae next week.

Residents should start to use it after their last blue bin collection in March.

The purple bin - which will be delivered on or around February 25 - will form part of an enhanced waste collection service which will see the purple bin, along with the grey and blue bins, collected as part of a new three weekly cycle.

Its introduction will also see a slight change to the items that go into each bin: * Purple bin – glass, cans, plastics and cartons (CHANGE) * Blue bin – paper, card and cardboard (CHANGE) * Grey bin – general waste which cannot be recycled (NO CHANGE)

The brown bin will continue to be used for food and garden waste and be collected fortnightly.

The changes form part of the council’s commitment to increase recycling to over 60 per cent by 2020 to meet the Scottish Government’s targets, which will increase to 70 per cent by 2025.

Studies have shown that around 71 per cent of the rubbish in the average grey bin in North Ayrshire could be recycled or composted.

By giving households an additional recycling bin, it is hoped people will divert some of the 71 per cent of recyclable items that currently go into the grey bin.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “We hope this will provide more space to recycle more items and in turn, do more for our local environment.

“When we started this project, we looked at what other local authorities were offering and it was apparent that there are many complicated systems in place across the country.

"We were clear from the very start that our changes had to be as simple and straight forward as possible for our residents.

“By having three bins, collected over three weeks, it is simple. We have also kept our brown bin service for food and garden waste on the same fortnightly collection that is currently offered.”

Councillor Montgomerie added: “There is of course going to be a period of adjustment for our residents - but we will be on hand to help.

“We've got a dedicated webpage where people can go for general information and our customer services team will be on hand to answer specific queries.”

All households will receive information though the post detailing these changes, along with their new bin collection calendar which commences in April.

Information is also available on the council’s website at www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/binchanges2019