Poor separation costs kingdom £2 million

recycling: Placing items in wrong bins means more waste is going to landfill and less is being recycled

Fifers have been urged to recycle responsibly amid suggestions almost £2 million of taxpayers money was “thrown away” last year due to the poor use of bins.

The figure has been highlighted by the region’s Liberal Democrat community safety spokesperson Councillor Margaret Kennedy.

Last year, statistics reveal that Fife Council had to put more than 3,400 tonnes of waste from brown bins into landfill, while 529 tonnes of incorrect waste was found in grey bins.

Ms Kennedy said: “According to Fife Council’s environmental service, around 48,000 tonnes of material – incurring £4.4 million in charges – was put in the blue landfill bins in 2016, of which around half could have gone into kerbside recycling bins.

“In addition, that recyclable waste incurred landfill tax and gate fees of £1.63 million.

“Had it been recycled the bill would have been £2.77 million rather than £4.4 million. Effectively, Fifers threw away nearly £2 million into landfill sites which could have been used to provide vital council services.”

The Courier understands that some common examples of incorrect items found in recycling bins include plastic wrapping and polystyrene in grey bins that should have gone in the green bin, animal waste and pet bedding found in the brown bin that should have gone in the blue landfill waste bin, electrical items in the green bin that could have gone to a recycling centre and toys that could have gone to a charity shop.

Councillor Ross Vettraino, convener of Fife Council’s environment, protective services and community safety committee, said: “Recycling makes good sense, both economically and environmentally.

“If the contamination of the recycling bins is reduced, then more waste can be sent for recycling, less waste would have to be landfilled and there would be huge savings in landfill tax, which could be used to improve services.

“When recycling bins become contaminated it often means that some or all of what is in the bin cannot be recycled.

“This spoils the excellent efforts most people are making in separating their household waste and means that the council has additional costs to dispose of it in landfill.

“The council is committed to making sure Fife maintains its place as one of the best-performing councils for recycling in Scotland and continue to urge people to recycle as much as possible.”

More information on recycling is available online at fifedirect. org.uk/4bins or by calling 03451 55 00 22.

Around 48,000 tonnes of material … was put in the blue landfill bins in 2016, of which around half could have gone into kerbside recycling bins. COUNCILLOR MARGARET KENNEDY

Picture: Kris Miller. Fife residents are being asked to be more careful when separating their waste.