Fife Council has issued advice for residents on bin collections ahead of “significant service disruption” expected during strike action.
Waste workers will walk out as part of national industrial action from Tuesday September 6 to Tuesday September 13.
Council chiefs have warned the majority of collections across Fife will be suspended over this period.
It comes after trade unions rejected a fresh pay offer from Cosla – which is handling negotiations on behalf of councils – on Monday.
It is the first time Fife bin workers will have taken part in strike action, with staff in Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross all participating in a first wave in recent days.
What services will be impacted?
Fife Council says residents’ wheelie bin collections will be “significantly impacted” during the strike action, while recycling centres may close from Wednesday September 7 to Saturday September 10.
Litter bins and dog waste bins are also likely to be affected, as well as street litter and fly-tipping clearances.
In addition, bulky uplifts will be stopped, although existing bookings will go ahead.
However, Fife schools will not be affected by the action.
Commercial collections are also unlikely to be impacted.
Should Fife residents put their bins out?
Fife Council has advised locals to wheel their bins out as usual during the strike on the days they are due to be collected.
If the bin has not been emptied by 9pm, it should be taken back and presented again on the next scheduled today for that bin.
The council says decisions on which bins will be serviced will be dependent on the numbers of employees attending work.
Locals are also being urged to take their litter home with them where possible.
Fife recycling centres to be ‘much busier’
Residents are advised to avoid using recycling centres as they are likely to be “much busier than usual” during the strike action.
Instead, they are asked to store products that can be recycled until the next scheduled collection day.
The council is also urging people to avoid fly-tipping and not to leave any non-recyclable waste at recycling points, after huge piles built up at sites in Dundee.
The local authority will lift excess waste landfill and recycling on the next scheduled uplift.
Ken Gourlay, Fife Council’s executive director enterprise and environment, said: “This strike action is part of national action being carried out across Scotland.
“I fully appreciate that this will be an extremely challenging period for us all and I would like to thank our residents and visitors for their patience and understanding.”
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