What you need to know before visiting Fife's re-opened recycling centres

Five Fife recycling centres are opening to the public from today (Monday).

However, those looking to make a visit will have to book a time to head along and follow strict guidelines to help keep themselves and staff safe.

The household waste recycling centres in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, St Andrews, Lochgelly and Dunfermline (Lochead) are now open seven days a week with bookable slots from 9.10am to 5.30pm.

But for now, Fifers will only be able to dispose of limited materials – landfill, green garden waste, paper, cardboard, cans and plastics.

The move is to alleviate the pressure of increased household waste during lockdown and to keep people safe, while helping more Fifers use the sites in the early days.

Other measures in place at the facilities include sanitisation, social distancing and traffic management, as initial demand is expected to be high.

What are the guidelines?

Before going to one of the centres, visitors MUST:

- have booked an available appointment online at www.fife.gov.uk/recyclingcentres.

- 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.

- 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.

Bookings have already been taken for the first three days until Wednesday, however the system will re-open today (Monday) 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.

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.

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.