03/09/2026
A new pilot project is being undertaken by West Lothian Council aimed at improving recycling at flatted properties, whilst creating cleaner, better-managed bin stores and improved living conditions for residents.
The recycling experience for householders in flatted properties can be quite different from that of residents with individual bins, because residents share communal bin stores.
The 12-week pilot is taking place in the areas of Forrestbank, Cloverbank, Fernbank (Livingston), Church Place, Fauldhouse, Beechwood Road, Blackburn and North Reeves Place, Whitburn.
The aim is to test practical changes and establish which approaches have the greatest impact on recycling behaviour. Some interventions are specifically aimed at trying to reduce fly-tipping (bags/items left at the side of communal bins), so overall, the council will be monitoring:
• general waste bins (overflowing bins due to reduced recycled content),
• side waste,
• fly tipping, and
• Improved recycling segregation (increase and quality)
As part of the initial stage of the project, we have:
• gathered feedback from residents to understand their experience of recycling in communal properties and identify some of the barriers they face.
• completed a waste composition analysis at the pilot sites, looking at the contents of communal general waste bins.
• sed these findings to help shape the next stage of the pilot.
The council is testing different interventions at different locations. Some of the flats are trialling individual 140 litre grey bins, which have been provided to those residents as part of the trial.
The measures we’ve introduced across the trial sites include:
• individual 140 litre grey bins at selected properties
• internal recycling bags and over-the-door hooks to support segregation at source
• improved bin layouts
• improved signage and labelling
• bin-store improvements, including fencing and gates at some locations
The idea is to test different approaches and see which are most effective at improving recycling, reducing waste around the bin stores and keeping the areas cleaner.
David Maule, Head of Operational Services said: “We are now moving into the intervention stage, where a range of improvements will be introduced at selected flatted properties. These include clearer signage and labelling, additional resident support, changes to bin provision and improvements to the bin store environment. Different interventions will be trialled at different locations so that we can establish what works best, rather than assuming that one approach will suit all flatted properties.
“The sites will be monitored throughout the trial. At the end, we will repeat the waste composition analysis to measure whether there has been a change in the amount of recyclable material being placed in general waste. We will also gather resident feedback again to understand how residents experienced the changes and which interventions they felt were most useful.
“The results of our initial analysis has been very encouraging, with most of the material found being appropriate for the general waste stream. Recyclable materials were present, but generally made up a relatively small proportion of the waste. This suggests that residents are already making use of the communal recycling facilities, while also highlighting an opportunity to capture more recyclable material.
“The intention is that the findings from the pilot will give us a stronger evidence base for how we can improve recycling provision for householders and engagement across other flatted properties in West Lothian.”
Further updates will be provided as the pilot progresses and the results become available.
