A green Fife Council company, set up to save the local authority millions, has exceeded all expectation in its first year.
In what was believed to be a first in Scotland, the arms-length firm was established a year ago to provide waste, renewable power and environmental consultancy services to the local authority, other public bodies and business community.
It was hoped Resource Efficient Solutions (RES) would save the council £1 million in its first year. But it has, in fact, saved £1.5m.
The firm operates waste, recycling and biomass services in Dunfermline and Ladybank.
The sites see work on recovering recyclable goods, producing biomass fuel, making compost and producing renewable power and heat all from rubbish. It also offers advice to other local authorities.
Now after a year in business, RES has reported: Third party sales of more than £9m; savings of more than £1.5m to the council; producing enough renewable electricity from the treatment of food and garden waste to power 1,000 homes; supplying more than 10,000 tonnes of wood biomass to a Fife-based renewable heat and power plant; providing consultancy services to seven Scottish councils; helping Fife Council to divert nearly 55% of its waste from landfill, securing its place as one of the leading performers in Scotland.
Its chairman, Councillor John Wincott, said: “Our financial results have exceeded expectations, which is great news.
“What’s most pleasing though is that all parts of the business have contributed to this success in what has been a difficult commercial environment for many resource management organisations.
Now the company is in discussion with the council about transferring additional activities to RES to allow it to expand its income generating side of the business, most notably in providing waste and recycling collection services to businesses in Fife and further afield.
“If successful, we should be in a position to make an even bigger contribution to Fife Council’s commitment to protect and develop local services,” Mr Wincott said.