Households in Fife could soon have their landfill wheelie bins emptied every three or four weeks instead of the current fortnightly uplift arrangements.
Fife Council’s executive committee has given the green light to trial new bin collection arrangements which aim to improve recycling rates and make financial savings.
It is looking at two different options and a report to the committee asked for permission to start a 12-month trial for 4,000 households in Fife.
A total of seven options were considered before being narrowed down to two:
Option 1Blue bin collections decrease to three weekly Green bin collections increase to three weekly (from every four weeks) Grey bin paper and card collection increase to three weekly (from every four weeks) Brown bin collection every two weeks from March to October then every four weeks during winter from November to FebruaryOption 2Blue bin collections decrease to four weekly Green bin collections increase to every two weeks Grey bin paper and card collections staying at four weekly Brown bin collection every two weeks from March until October then every four weeks from November to FebruaryCouncillors were told the options have the potential to save the council money and increase recycling performance in Fife.
In a report from Ken Gourlay, head of asset management and building services at Fife Council, councillors were told Fife is well placed to meet the Scottish Government target of 60% recycling by 2020 but considerable effort will have to be made now to meet the 2025 target of 70% recycling of all wastes.
If no improvements are made to the current four-bin system and the cost for landfill disposals stays the same, this could cost the council an extra £1.5 million a year.
The council has subsequently had to have a look at changes to collections to improve recycling rates and these two options identified could also save the council money too.
Members were told customer feedback on the four-bin system was overwhelmingly in favour of increasing the current four-weekly collection of the green bin.
Tay Bridgehead Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Brett asked for assurances that the trials would not be held in areas most recently presented with four bins as these communities needed “time to settle down”.
St Andrews Conservative councillor Dorothea Morrison said the issue had been raised at St Andrews Community Council on Monday night.
St Andrews University Students’ Association president Pat Mathewson, said students were very keen to recycle but they needed access to an appropriate facility in the town centre.
With the centre of town being a “black bag” area, Mr Mathewson had also asked if black bags could be distributed from somewhere in the students’ union.
Mrs Morrison also asked if there was a risk that an increase in plastic recycling could deflate the market and lead to a drop in revenue for the council.
Officials said they will monitor the results throughout the one-year trial and then report back on the findings.
The preferred option would then be put forward for approval and implementation across Fife.
Officials think this will take more than two years to achieve, from 2016 to 2018.