CHANGES are coming to improve household waste recycling centres and commercial waste services, and fully recover the costs of disposing of trade waste and Lochgelly's Cartmore facility will be involved.

Fife Council’s Environment, Protective Services and Community Safety Committee has agreed some changes to commercial waste at the council’s recycling centres, that will start on January 1 2019.

The new measures include changes to how commercial customers pay through a new cashless payment system, which is an online customer account. Business customers register online and top up their balance that is then used to pay for waste disposal on entering one of the council’s recycling centres that accepts commercial waste. Charges are based on vehicle size, material type and fill level of vehicle/volume of waste.

It is only residents wishing to dispose of commercial waste that need to register. Fife Council's video explains the process and how the new payment system works - https://youtu.be/Gw-s556UNA4

Commercial organisations can dispose of material at nine of Fife's household waste recycling centres. Seven Recycling Centres will operate a standard charge for accepting commercial waste and Lochgelly's Cartmore facility is one of them. The Cowdenbeath Recycling Centre does not accept commercial waste.

Further information on the new payment system will be published when available. No new Recycling Ticket applications are being accepted, and current customers will be the first to move across to the new payment system in February. It will become available to all Fife-based customers in April 2019.

All customers in vehicles disposing of household waste using a trailer will be required to complete a declaration form and provide proof of address prior to disposing of any waste.

No pedestrian access will be allowed at any of Fife Council’s Recycling Centres from January 1.

Cllr Ross Vettraino, convener of the Committee, said: "The new payment system for commercial customers is simple and easy to use. Customers register online and top up their balance, which is then used to pay for waste disposal on entering.

"Currently, accepting commercial waste service at the council’s household waste recycling centres is costing the council tax payers in Fife in excess of £1.5 million per annum. Unlike some other neighbouring local authorities, Fife Council wants to continue to assist local businesses, but this can only be done if full costs are recovered. These changes are ensuring that we're supporting our local businesses fairly."