NEWS

Shetland fish farmers urged to participate in new recycling scheme

Shetland fish farmers are being urged to take advantage of a new recycling service for redundant salmon cages that has already been successfully rolled-out on the west coast of Scotland and Orkney.

The scheme, which is managed by aquaculture equipment specialist Fusion Marine in conjunction with Axion Recycling and Shetland Islands Council, will help the environment by preventing old polyethylene plastic (PE) cages from being consigned for landfill.

To take advantage of the scheme, all fish farmers have to do is to deliver any unwanted PE cages to a designated area set aside at the old landfill site at Rova Head, Lerwick. The recycling scheme applies to the plastic pipe sections of the cage only and it is essential that they have been cleaned prior to delivery.

Once a sufficient number have been delivered, the cages will then be size-reduced using a mobile recycling machine operated by Axion, with the resultant small plastic pieces being transported back to its recycling facility in Manchester.

Stephen Divers, managing director for Fusion Marine, said: “This unique service provides an alternative to fish farmers having to pay for the disposal of unwanted cages.

“This new scheme is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of disposing of cages and I would urge all fish farmers to take advantage of it.”

For more details of how to participate in the scheme, telephone Rova Head landfill site manager Willie Smith on 01595 743960, or Stephen Divers of Fusion Marine on 01631 720730.