Published Date: May 29th, 2024
Fife Council’s free bulky uplift service is set to continue after a report to the Environment, Climate Change, and Transport Scrutiny committee marked the first year of the free service as a success.
55,547 uplifts were made in the first 12 months of the service, which launched in April 2023. Throughout the first year of the service being free of charge, 59% of uplifted materials were recycled. The council is now exploring ways of supporting residents to segregate and recycle more of their domestic waste.
Councillor Jan Wincott, Spokesperson for Climate Change and Environment, said: “We have seen a huge uptake in the bulky uplift service since removing the charge for the service last year, with a four-fold increase in demand. The free service has helped relieve pressure on our recycling centres, support residents with financial challenges and help them to dispose of their waste responsibly.
“While it is great to see so many Fifers making use of the free service, we encourage people to continue to recycle or check to see if any items can be re-used first.
“Although the service has been successful so far, our fly-tipping figures are concerning. Fly-tipping is damaging to our environment, our communities, and places unnecessary pressure on our frontline services.
“We urge all Fifer’s to continue to report instances of fly-tipping, which carries a fine of £500.”
Although the free of charge service is set to continue, new SEPA guidelines have required the service to alter the operating model for uplifting upholstered couches and chairs. These items contain materials that are harmful to the environment and they must be uplifted separately from all other bulky items.
Processing furniture containing these pollutants increases disposal costs and this is likely to add a further financial pressure of £300k - £500k per annum to the initial £1.2m that was originally provided to roll this service out.
Despite the first year of the free bulky uplift service being successful, levels of fly-tipping in Fife have seen a 12% increase in the same period. The illegal dumping of rubbish, like white goods, mattresses and bags of waste - including clear-up and lost taxes - is estimated to cost around £1 billion across the UK every year.
In the financial year 2023/24, there were 3,483 reported incidents of fly-tipping in Fife, compared to 3,110 from the previous year. It is likely that fly-tipped materials are predominantly commercial waste dumped by small business owners and traders.
To request a free bulky uplift, or for more information on the service, visit: Bulky uplift service | Fife Council
