Fife Council to issue guidance after wrong bins used

Members of Fife Council’s environment, protective services and community safety committee were given an update at their recent meeting.

In a report by the council’s environmental strategy officer, Angela Rough, members were told contamination of bins at recycling points was proving challenging – particularly with plastic and can bins.

“These bins are commonly used to dispose of bagged waste and whilst these bags may contain recycling, they often contain mixed household waste,” she stated.

“If plastic and can bins are to remain at recycling points, the quality within these bins requires to improve in line with materials accepted in green kerbside bins.”

Councillors were also told that staff from the Parks, Streets and Open Spaces (PSOS) department were visiting recycling points on a daily basis to pick up illegal dumping, maintain cleanliness and empty litter bins.

“The types of waste predominantly left outside bins at recycling points is not excess recycling but bulky household waste such as furniture, electrical items and bric-a-brac or black bagged mixed general household waste including food waste,” added the report.

“All of these waste types can be disposed of at household waste recycling centres or by arranging a special uplift.

“Recycling point bins are designed to accept overspill from the kerbside collection service. More commonly, residents are bringing items too large to fit into the recycling bins eg bulky cardboard boxes.

"This type of bulky waste should be disposed of in the cardboard compactor at the household waste recycling centre.”

Councillors were told that Fife Resource Solutions, who deal with the waste, were working with the communications team to produce a household recycling guide which will raise awareness of recycling points and what they can be used for, including how best to dispose of bulky waste.