Welcome to RoWAN

RoWAN (Ross-shire Waste Action Network) is a community group which aims to involve a wide range of local people and organisations in improving waste management in Ross-shire.

This site tells you about: 
           projects that RoWAN is involved with,
           advice on waste reduction, reuse and recycling ,
           news, events, offers, competitions ,
           links to other waste organisations .

It also enables householders on the monitored RCV (Refuse Collection Vehicle) route to see their weekly bin weight.

News spot:

Check out: our Waste-free Refuse Collection Vehicle Project Final Report  and Executive summary, our latest newsletter and new job vacancy of Master Composter Project Officer.

RoWAN is currently applying for new funding to work with communities in the Ross-shire  and elsewhere to deliver further community level waste awareness and prevention initiatives. Thank you for the support and encouragement that we have received from individuals and groups for our waste reduction work.

Alness artwork gets pupils to think more about what we throw out.

Goods news for plastic and kerbside recycling - Highland Council is to provide more facilities.

End of Project Conference  It was good to see so many at our End of Project event on Wednesday 20th February. See the RoWAN write up and press release about the event by David Bryan of CRNS.

'Ullapool's Cottoned On' Launch on  Friday 14th December

RoWAN has helped Ullapool successfully launch its 'Ullapool's Cottoned On'  initiative to reduce plastic bag use. Plastic bags litter the countryside, kill wildlife and waste the world’s resources. Ullapool’s residents and traders have decided to tackle this problem, in conjuction with  RoWAN and the Ullapool Tourism and Business Association. All households in Ullapool have been supplied with 3 fairly traded cotton bags and shops are putting in incentives to discourage plastic bag use, such as a token charge to a charity tin for each bag used. Many shops are using paper or degradable/biodegradable plastic bags which are, on balance, less harmful to the environment - though  reusing bags is best! Find the story at  the BBC news.

Are you on the RoWAN RCV route -see RCV project? Get your FREE washable nappy!

A child has around 5000 nappy changes from birth to potty. With disposables, that’s a lot of waste and a lot of money in the bin. And they’ll sit in landfill for hundreds of years…

Washable nappies are easy, effective and save you £400 to £1000 per child. If you live on a RoWAN route and want to give them a go, call us and RoWAN will give you a FREE nappy to try! 

See Highland Real Nappy Project for more information about washable nappies.

Good news on plastic, carton, computer monitor recycling!

Did you know plastic drinks and milk bottles are now collected for recycling at the Highland Council Dingwall , Alness and Tain recycling centres?

There is also a new Ullapool plastic drinks bottle collection facility is now available at The Troll Yard - on the left just past the high school.

Computer monitors are now collected for a recycling trial at Dingwall and Alness recycling centres.

There is also now a carton collection at the Dingwall recycling centre arranged through Tetrapak and the Highland Council. Just rinse them out, no need to remove plastic lids. Why not collect them along with your plastic bottles and take them through next time you are going that way?

Contact: for more information or feedback about the website please contact us at info@rowanweb.org.uk , phone               01349 867063        or write to RoWAN, Upper Bank of Scotland, 1 Tulloch Street, Dingwall, Ross-shire, IV15 9JY

Please note staff are working reduced hours through July to September but if you leave a phone or email message, we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.