FIFE Council wants the public to play a key role in heading towards a zero waste Kingdom.

The Council has launched its Zero Waste Fife: Resource Strategy & Action Plan that sets out actions to move the Council to the vision of zero waste and a circular economy society, where waste is reduced and recycled, over the next 10 years.

The Strategy & Action Plan identifies six themes that outline the challenges to be overcome. These are: Preventing waste. Minimising the environmental impacts of waste, including climate change. Engaging and communicating with residents and other stakeholders. Developing services and infrastructure for the future. Maximising economic benefit on the way to zero waste and a circular economy. Managing non-recyclable waste.

The strategy covers all waste collected and produced by the council and its arms-length external organisation Fife Resource Solutions (FRS), which is responsible for managing waste in Fife, on behalf of Fife Council.

The Resource Strategy & Action Plan will be used to guide council decision-making, mapping out the way forward. This includes how the council will meet national recycling and composting targets, control future waste, work in partnership with communities, determine how to deal with non-recyclable waste and determine future resource and infrastructure needs.

The Environment, Protective Services and Community Safety Committee, Fife Resource Solutions and Fife Council held a workshop in May to launch the new strategy.

This work will continue with further workshops with councillors Fife-wide to identify and tackle local issues.

Cllr Ross Vettraino, convener of the Environment, Protective Services and Community Safety Committee, said: “Fife Council has made significant and meaningful progress towards its vision of Zero Waste to landfill.

"In 2016, over 59% of waste was diverted from landfill (55% was recycled). This new Resource Strategy and Action Plan outlines the steps that need to be taken on the journey towards our vision.

“There are new and major challenges that will have to be addressed. In 2021, landfilling biodegradable household waste will be banned by law.

"By 2025, only 5% of all waste will be allowed to be landfilled, together with meeting a 70% recycling target. The shift in culture and behaviour change required to meet these challenges, cannot be overstated. Every Fife Council service and every Fife community must understand the challenges and contribute towards solutions.”

Fife Council’s Environment, Protective Services and Community Safety Committee approved the Zero Waste Fife: Resource Strategy & Action Plan 2018 - 2028 earlier in the year.

To find more about the Zero Waste Fife: Resource Strategy & Action Plan 2018 – 2028 please visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/dontwasteit