Launched at the end of September 2015, the year-long trials involve 4,000 households in two trial areas: Markinch and Coaltown of Balgonie, and Thornton and Stenton.
In both trials, recycling containers are emptied on a more frequent basis and residual waste bins less often – once every three weeks in Markinch and Coaltown of Balgonie, and every four weeks in Thornton and Stenton in an effort to boost recycling rates and reduce landfill costs.
Although conclusive figures are still not yet available, the council has stated that preliminary results of a survey of households show waste to landfill has reduced on both trials, and that the amounts of both plastic and cans and paper and cardboard collected has increased.
Last month, Fife council reported that its trials of four-weekly collections of residual waste had a positive impact on recycling rates and resulted in low levels of contamination (see letsrecycle.com story).
Consultation
Over 470 households in the trial areas took part in a council survey, which could be completed online or face-to-face with a recycling adviser. The results will now be fully analysed, the council has said.
Fife council’s “sustainability champion,” councillor John Wincott, commented: “Thank you to everyone in the households in both trial areas. I know that change like this means that people have to work with us for it to succeed, and we have found that the vast majority of people have done this.
“We have found that landfill waste collected has gone down, and recycling up. Contamination levels and the numbers of blue bins with raised lids both remain low thanks to the commitment of local people.”
Analysis
Cllr Wincott added: “The pilots are designed to help us get more information so that we can meet the needs of local people, and develop a cleaner, greener Fife, as well as reduce our landfill tax costs. We are closely monitoring customer opinion of the trials to find out what is working for local people.”
The trials have now been underway for seven months, and will continue to run at least for the full 12 months. This is to allow full analysis of the impact of the changes, the council has stated.
All the monitoring currently being carried out will continue over the coming months, including the amounts of recycling and landfill waste, Recycling Point and Centre usage, and analysis of service requests.
Fife council’s arms-length company, Resource Efficient Solutions LLP (RES), which has managed the implementation of the four bin service throughout the region since it began trading in April 2014, is managing the trials.
There have been five formal complaints made from within the trial areas to Fife council about the current bin trials since the pilot started, the council has said.
Fife recorded a 53.7% recycling rate in 2014.
Register for free to comment