FIFE COUNCIL are "leading the way" in Scotland and will use a £470,000 grant to develop their innovative method of recycling a problematic form of waste.

It will be the first local authority in the country that will be able to sort and separate plastic films locally, with a new process being developed in Dunfermline.

The money has come from the Scottish Government and will help improve Fife's recycling performance.

Councillor Ross Vettraino, convener of the environment and protective services sub-committee, said: "Fife Resource Solutions (FRS) have been awarded a recycling improvement grant which runs to several hundred thousands of pounds because of the innovative separation process they're installing and developing at Lochhead in Dunfermline.

"This new facility is particularly important because it will enable the recycling of plastic film for the first time.

"Once again, it's Fife Council, through FRS, that's leading the way on this."

While items such as plastic shopping bags can be used again, cling film has generally not been recyclable and Fifers have been told to put it in the blue landfill bin.

Used mostly in packaging, around 1.1 million tonnes of plastic film is used in the UK each year.

FRS is the council's arms-length company that looks after the recycling centres in the Kingdom and carries out other waste-related services for the local authority.

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: "The funding announced today will make Fife the first council in the country able to sort and separate plastic films locally, addressing a serious challenge to recycling."

The funding package from the Scottish Government was announced by the minister for the circular economy, and Scottish Green MSP, Lorna Slater.

As part of her statement, she said council planning chiefs would also be instructed to 'call in' applications for new waste incineration plants to the Scottish Government.

It is the same planning instruction that was used ahead of the moratorium on fracking, with the Scottish Greens against the industrial-scale burning of rubbish.

Mr Ruskell added: "Incineration has no future as a solution for tackling the climate crisis, and that’s why we’re putting the brakes on plans to build these all over Scotland.

"What’s been announced today is the same procedure used ahead of the fracking ban, so it will be clear to councils what the direction of travel is.

“The package announced today has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an enormous 17,200 tonnes each year across Scotland, the equivalent of 9,100 cars off the road.

“Together, today’s announcements represent great news for Fife and show the positive impact the Scottish Greens are having in government.”