Council halts recycling pay-per-load plans

The plans have been put on hold. Stock image.

The three-month postponement comes after businesses slammed the changes which they said would see costs rocket by up to a staggering 3100 per cent.

Now, two weeks after the Press first highlighted the problems, the council has put everything on hold until next year.

The changes would have seen trade recycling limited to just three sites, new charging structures and restrictions on domestic users with vans or trailers.

They were due to be enforced from October 3, but are now on the backburner for three months after intense criticism from traders across the region.

The council put responsibility for the new plan at the door of its arms-length company, Fife Resource Solutions (FRS).

But it will now look again at the impact on businesses, the proposed new charges, and how traders can recycle their rubbish.

Councillor David Ross, leader of Fife Council, asked for a delay of at least three-months to carry out the re-think.

He said: “FRS has a direct responsibility to the council, and having looked at the concerns about the impact of these new arrangements being raised by councillors, businesses and individuals, I requested it delays the implementation of these proposals for at least three months to allow these matters to be addressed more fully.”

He said most Fifers accepted the need for change – it is estimated unauthorised tipping is costing the Council £500,000 per year.

The review will study the proposals in detail, and will look at everything from the booking system to the reduction in the number of recycling sites traders can use.

It will also examine concerns over the management and supervision of sites, including the use of barriers.

Cllr Ross added: “The concerns raised by local people, communities and businesses need to be properly addressed. This is why I have asked FRS to put their proposals on hold.”