New doorstep glass recycling service starts in Fife

Doorstep Glass Recycling was launched in Dundee in November 2020, and has achieved enough success already to be able to expand across the Tay.

The service is now available in north east Fife, with plans to expand into Levenmouth, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy from March 27.

As well as making it easier for Fifers to help the environment, those who sign up to the £6 per month service will also be helping their local foodbanks.

Ten per cent of all profits from the business go to foodbanks in the area they cover.

"The foodbanks are overrun, people are struggling,” said founder Ryan Russell.

"It’s recycling to help the community.

“During lockdown I was going to the local bottle bank and I noticed that it was full to the brim. It was a convenience thing.

"I didn’t know where to put the bottles. You don’t want to be wandering around with a bunch of glass bottles. You probably pay as much for this service as you would for take away delivery.

"Users sign up to the service for £6 per month and are given a box to keep all their glass recyclables.

The team then collect this box once every four weeks and gives it to the Binn Group for recycling.

Ryan said that the quick expansion has been a big benefit to foodbanks in the areas already covered by the service.

"We need to keep getting the numbers up – the more customers who sign up, the more help we can offer to the foodbanks,” he said.

"Foodbanks are needed more than ever. We wanted to run a business, but with a difference. We wanted to give back.

"Foodbanks are under a lot of pressure and that is only going to get worse when the furlough scheme comes to an end.

"The environmental impact is also huge – these glass bottles are being recycled correctly.”

As well as helping users support the environment, the business is hoping to become carbon neutral itself by the end of the year.

To learn more about the service, visit – www.facebook.com/doorstepglassrecycling.