Do stuttering recycling rates mean we’ve hit the tipping point?

People urged to do more as centre opening hours are cut

Fife has been at the forefront of recycling in the last decade, and the kingdom’s residents have long been told about the need for a culture change in the way they dispose of their rubbish.

Most people have been receptive to that shift, and it’s been heartening to hear people complaining about the prospect of four-weekly bin collections rather than the need to recycle in the first place.

Common sense has prevailed and the monthly collections of blue landfill bins, green bins for plastic and cans and grey paper bins will not now take place.

But with Fife’s recycling rates stuttering a bit of late, as councils have to make every penny count, you just wonder if we’ve reached a tipping point (pardon the pun).

That was in evidence this week when councillors decided to stop the recent bin trials in Glenrothes and revert to the normal four bin system.

The trial did its job and recycling increased, but not to the extent forecast and with negligible savings.

The decision was also made to introduce four-weekly garden waste collections over the winter, which is something that really can’t be argued against – it just makes sense.

However, while people are being told to keep recycling and do their bit to stop waste going to landfill, we’re now being told that financial pressures will see household recycling centres closing for a day or two during the week and also for 30 minutes a day while staff have lunch.

It’s a mixed message that’s being put out, and you just hope Fifers can adapt to the new arrangements without going down either the apathy or fly-tipping route.

The one glaring aspect that hasn’t really been dealt with is the recycling of glass bottles.

We’ve heard talk of plans for a deposit scheme north of the border, and there’s a real opportunity there just ripe for the picking.

Plenty of challenges to come then for the powers-that-be when it comes to tackling climate change, cutting carbon emissions and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

It’ll be interesting to see how Fife Council, with the help of the general public, rises to those challenges.

Picture: Kenny Smith Supermarket recycling points have become a common sight.