THERE APPEARS to be little prospect of householders in Fife being offered separate glass and can collections in the near future.

Despite the emphasis on recycling in Fife, which has seen levels soar, it would cost too much to buy the vehicles necessary to collect such materials, councillors have been told.

Opposition leader Alex Rowley called on the chairman of environment and transport, Tony Martin, to set up an analysis of the council’s waste strategy, pointing out other councils in Scotland do have such collections.

“I am asking that you agree to look at a review of the successful strategy and also look at other authorities and how they collect waste such as glass and cans,” he said.

But Mr Martin effectively crushed such a move being introduced in Fife, saying, “We are where we are in the way we collect waste and authorities that do not have wheelie bins have different ways of working.

“We have to look at best value—we cannot just go out and buy another fleet of lorries.

“I do not think we can offer separate glass and can collections.”

Asked by Mike Rumney about the latest position on any negotiations on the future of waste management in Fife and if Fife will have to build its own incinerator, Mr Martin said he has written to the relevant minister seeking a meeting to discuss waste strategy but has not yet received a reply.

He added, “The chief executive has met other councils and we are still working on a business plan.

“I do not think that an incinerator will be any part of these proposals, but we have to continue to move forward on how we treat waste,” he said.