This is all you need to know about Fife's recycling centres reopening

Five of Fife’s recycling centres are set to reopen from next week with a booking system in place.

Strict guidelines and essential changes to how recycling centres are run are being put in place to keep local people and staff safe.

Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, St Andrews, Lochgelly and Dunfermline (Lochead) household waste recycling centres will be open to the public seven days a week from Monday, June 1 with bookable slots from 9.10am to 5.30pm.

Limited materials will be able to be disposed of initially, with containers available for the most common materials accepted by the kerbside service (except food waste).

Only landfill, green garden waste, paper and cardboard and cans and plastics will be accepted at the sites to alleviate the pressure of increased household waste during lockdown and to keep people safe and help more Fifers use the site in the early days.

Robin Baird, chief operating officer for Fife Resource Solutions (FRS) which runs the services on behalf of Fife Council, said: “We know that this is an extremely difficult time for many people.

“Our top priority is to make sure both local people and our staff are kept safe, which is why stringent health and safety requirements, including sanitisation, social distancing and traffic management are now in place across our recycling centres that are re-opening. “Recycling centre visits must be booked, or you will not be allowed access.

“We know that initial demand will be high, so please only book a visit to any recycling centre if you have waste that poses a health or fire risk and cannot safely be stored at home.”

The strict rules that will be in place mean visitors MUST:

- have booked an available appointment online at www.fife.gov.uk/recyclingcentres. The service is now available.

- check if their waste materials can be taken to the site as only limited materials are being accepted for now

- arrive at your allocated time you have booked online. There may be delays accessing the site and possibly queues of waiting vehicles. Please bear with staff as they work safely on site to limit contact between people

- have their ID and proof of Fife address with them (driving licence or council tax bill)

- have only one person per vehicle (Blue badge holders or those with dependants that cannot be left at home are the exceptions – but only one person is allowed to leave the vehicle when on site)

- staff will not be able to assist with disposing of the items on site, so please make sure you can lift what you bring

- travel by car. No vans, trailers or pickups allowed on sites

- only book one visit a week by car per household

The measures will be reviewed as time goes on and the booking system is currently enabling people to book for June 1, 2 and 3.

The system effectiveness will be monitored and will re-open again for bookings on Monday 1 June, and will take bookings for the remainder of the week.The phased approach to booking allows for all the measures in relation to the safe opening of the sites to be reviewed, to ensure visitors and staff are kept safe, while at the same time maximising the service for Fife residents.Councillor Ross Vettraino, convenor of the council’s environment and protective services committee, said: “The council would like to thank residents for continuing to recycle over this difficult period. With fortnightly emptying of food and garden waste bins (the brown bin) resuming from June 1, the council is picking up all kerbside bins as usual.

“There will be a high demand for recycling centres when they re-open, so please continue to use your household bins for as much recycling and waste as much as possible.

“Bin capacity can be greatly increased if cans, bottles and cardboard containers are flattened, before being put in the bins.

“Please also use Fife’s network of smaller recycling points where possible.”

Over the first week of re-opening approximately 7000 people will be able to visit Fife Council’s recycling centres, across the five that are open.

The above proposals may change, depending on Public Health advice.

Fifers are also reminded that they should not visit a recycling centre if they are unwell. Everyone should be following the seven day self-isolation guidance. If a household member is unwell, people should be following the 14 day stay at home guidance.

To find out more visit www.fife.gov.uk/recyclingcentres