West Fife waste heading for Germany

Matt Meade • Published 25 Nov 2011 08:30 12 Comments

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WEST FIFE waste could soon be sent to Germany.

It's just one idea Fife Council is proposing as it aims to boost recycling rates across the Kingdom.

Refuse would be exported to Germany and other European countries where there is a demand for it to supply 'energy from waste' plants.

Last week Fife Council announced it has gone from one of the worst- to one of the best-performing councils for recycling.

In 2001, just two per cent of waste was recycled. That figure now stands at 52 per cent.

By 2020 the council want to improve that figure to 70 per cent and ensure they meet all Scottish Government recycling requirements.

Now a 'road map' on how this can be achieved has been published in a draft strategy entitled 'Towards Zero Waste Fife'.

Ideas include the thermal treatment of waste and ensuring the fourth bin scheme is rolled out across the Kingdom.

And a £15.5 million anaerobic digestion plant - to turn food scraps and garden waste into energy - is due to open at Lochhead in 2013.

The strategy, a report by Ken Gourlay, head of asset and facilities management services, and Bob McLellan, head of transportation and environmental services, was approved at the environment, enterprise and transportation committee last week.

In it they state, "There is evidence of demand in Germany for refuse-derived fuel to supply existing 'Energy from Waste' plants and cement kilns that cannot be met internally.

"Opportunities and challenges associated with exporting refuse-derived fuel to Germany and elsewhere will be considered."

Commenting on the report, Chris Ewing, senior manager (sustainability), said, "What is suggested is that there is an almost international market for this type of fuel, certainly in Germany and Holland. How Fife will do it is still open to question."

On the subject of the thermal treatment of waste he explained, "It's burning waste that can't be recycled to create power and heat.

"How much waste will require to be treated is still subject to a significant amount of research.

"But there is an expectation that before 2020 some of the waste we collect will be burned to generate power and heat."

Already, around 54,000 houses in Fife have a fourth 'green' bin, used for plastics and cans. By March 2014, Fife Council expects that number to be 150,000.

Mr Ewing added, "That goes a long way in dealing with most of the collection issues set out in the Zero Waste regulations.

"I think we're on the right track. But I think we need to guard against complacency and make sure we are providing a service that meets the needs of the vast majority of people.

"We're working to a draft programme that would see West Fife have them, probably from 2013 onwards.

"It's another wee while before it comes to West Fife, as we are working our way from east to west."

Significant income has already come from the sale of recyclates. In 2010/11 this amounted to more than £1.5 million. For 2011/12 it is forecast to be £2.5m.

Councillor Ross Vettraino, vice chair of the environment, enterprise and transportation committee, said, "To be recycling and composting nearly 52 per cent of our waste is a tremendous achievement and my thanks go out again to everyone in Fife for helping us get there."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

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Nov 25, 20:20
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Nov 26, 01:18
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Nov 26, 01:54
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376 posts
Nov 26, 01:57
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It's called recycling!

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Nov 26, 12:02
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Nov 26, 12:20
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Nov 26, 13:22
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Nov 26, 13:33
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Nov 26, 13:57
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Nov 26, 14:46
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Nov 26, 20:15
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Nov 27, 10:47
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Nov 27, 15:05
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Nov 27, 16:15
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If you read my posts,you too, would see I detest war and loss of innocent lives,oh classless society,distribution of wealth,less work, long holidays now did I say I was against communism

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Nov 27, 16:39
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Nov 27, 16:42
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Nov 27, 17:28
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Nov 27, 17:57
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NotHappyJan
192 posts
Nov 27, 20:19
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Laughing, that is what I am. I am laughing. Won't be long monty before all of your diatribe will be moderated and thank goodness for that, such nonsense has no place on this site.

Now for the story, if we must send our waste elsewhwere why not Germany? Its a great idea, oh and send monty along with it, sounds as if it could be doing with a bit of recycling.

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Nov 28, 10:39
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Nov 28, 10:40
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Nov 28, 10:47
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376 posts
Nov 28, 10:48
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What's the problem with that?

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Nov 28, 10:50
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Nov 28, 11:09
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Nov 28, 11:16
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Nov 28, 11:51
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Nov 28, 12:12
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moderators,you are taking off decent true postings,anyway we are fed up with monty,as jan says,his time is running out

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Nov 28, 12:31
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Nov 28, 12:36
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davie1
26 posts
Nov 28, 13:17
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I wont recycle anything - never have and never will! and the reason? Fife Council ! I already pay extortionate ammounts to Fife Council by way of Council Tax. If they want to reduce the service I am forced to pay for they should refund some of the money I gave them!

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Nov 28, 15:30
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Nov 28, 16:03
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Davie1,some of my friends are on benefits,and are forced to pay council tax,needless to say,they do not recycle.

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Blackadder
257 posts
Nov 28, 17:25
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That is a very strange train of thought, not recycling because you pay council tax. That's up there with litter dropping and not picking up after your dog because you pay council tax. You'll be setting fire to your house next to get your money's worth out of the fire brigade which is funded by council tax.

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NotHappyJan
192 posts
Nov 28, 20:38
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If you pay council tax for services its quite alright to expect to receive the services you pay for. If you want to drop litter , leave dog poop or not recycle because thats what you pay the council for, so be it. We live in a democracy and that is your right.

As for setting fire to your house, if thats what you are into so be it, as long as the fire brigade turns up for which you pay!

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BobTheBuilder
111 posts
Nov 28, 21:07
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Yeah, Jan. You tell em! People have the right to their own decisions - like striking, for example? I've paid, therefore I'm entitled - so, when will all those with free or £30 Road Fund Licences pay for the upkeep of the roads they drive their cars on? Oh, that's right - it's two fingers to authority when it'll actually cost anything.

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Blackadder
257 posts
Nov 28, 22:47
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I can't work out whether you are genuinely poorly educated (that would explain the massive chip on your shoulder about teachers) or a complete hypocrite. You are the first to bleat about, well anything really, but in particular, after Rosyth, council workers and the lack of need for them. Yet here you are behaving like an aging princess unable to perform basic tasks and needing a whole army of council employees wasting time and money when they could be carrying out more vital duties with the elderly or those who genuinely need people to clean up for them.

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Nov 29, 08:55
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Nov 29, 11:54
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Nov 29, 14:44
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Nov 30, 14:11
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DrewCarnegie
65 posts
Dec 11, 09:40
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If we send the powers at Fife Council to Germany for recycling, do you think they will come back as competent sensible people

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