Trailer ban at recycling sites will remain.

Measure to be continued, as waste processed at sites falls by 24.5%

A ban on double-axle trailers at Fife recycling centres is to be continued.

The rule was among a raft of measures approved by Fife Council last year to prevent traders using the sites to get rid of commercial waste without paying.

New figures have shown the amount of waste processed at sites across the kingdom has fallen by nearly a quarter since the ban was introduced.

In October 2017 disposal of commercial waste at Fife recycling sites was said to be costing the council nearly £2 million.

A review of the access policy for waste and recycling centres has meant the tonnage of material brought to the sites fell by 24.5% between 2017 and 2018.

Robin Baird, chief operating officer of Resource Efficient Solutions, which operates recycling centres on behalf of the council, said there had been “positive outcomes” as a result of the measures.

“The volume of waste we are handling has decreased with the new measures,” he said.

“In addition to that, a lot of the private-sector waste-management companies in Fife are noting an increase in the waste coming to them from genuine commercial usage,” Mr Baird added.

Mr Baird was speaking to the council’s environment and protective services committee during an update on the access policy.

The use of the centres will continue to be monitored.

Householders who want to bring waste to the sites using single-axle trailers can do so but need to complete a declaration form confirming they are disposing of household waste.

Councillors on the committee heard 1,700 declaration forms had been completed to date.

The meeting was told seven complaints had been received by the council in relation to the double-axle trailer ban between January and June this year, which was described as low in relation to the 500,000 visits to the sites.

The committee convener, SNP councillor Ross Vettraino, said new number plate recognition technology being introduced will help the council identify commercial users abusing the sites.

However, Conservative councillor Darren Watt told the meeting that the council was “bearing the brunt” of irresponsible waste disposal as businesses may resort to illegal dumping.

“The volume of waste we are handling has decreased with the new measures. ROBIN BAIRD