Jobs have been saved after a new recycling service was launched in Inverclyde

Greenlight Environmental, a social enterprise which provided recycling services to Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute councils, went into administration back in August.

It meant that people in tenements and high rise flats had no uplifts.

Now Inverclyde Council has taken steps to fill the role of the collapsed recycling contractor.

From the end of November the council will introduce a modified version of the service.

GMB Scotland organiser Hazel Nolan, who campaigned to save the jobs of 30 local workers, today cautiously welcomed the news.

She said: "The councils have taken positive steps forward by redeploying most Greenlight staff into their recycling and waste services - they are making the best of a bad situation.

"Our priority moving forward into 2019 as budgets are set is to ensure permanent posts for former Greenlight staff as part of an increased investment in local recycling and waste services overall.

"That will be challenging but against the backdrop of a decade of cuts to local government, proper funding and resource is the only way we can credibly deliver and sustain these vital public services."

Councillor Michael McCormick, who is the environment and regeneration convener, says officials worked tirelessly to fill the gap left by the company.

He said: “The collapse of Greenlight came as a shock and of course had an immediate impact on our recycling services.

“We have worked very hard over the years to promote recycling in Inverclyde and people have listened and taken on board the message extremely well.

“We are one of the top performing councils in Scotland and I think everyone here is determined to maintain that momentum and recycle where possible.

“As a result we have come up with a solution that can effectively fill the gap left by Greenlight’s collapse within existing resources.”

People living in tenements and high rise properties will be provided with blue polythene sacks to be placed on the kerbside or nearest collection point by 7am on their collection day.

Supplies of blue bags will be delivered to residents every 20 weeks.

There will be no change to the weekly black bag or bin collections.

Councillor McCormick added: “We appreciate there has already been some inconvenience for people since Greenlight collapsed but we have been working hard behind the scenes to come up with a workable and sustainable solution.

“Although this is a somewhat reduced recycling service for tenements and high rise flats it is the same for every other property in Inverclyde.”