Fife householders are to receive fewer food waste bags throughout the year to help cut costs, it has emerged.
Three rolls of food waste bags will be delivered to properties every year for Fife Council’s brown food waste caddy, rather than twice a year as at present.
Research into the usage of the bags, which fit neatly into the small brown caddy which can then be transported to the larger outdoor brown bin for kerbside recycling, suggested around half of the bags provided were not being used.
The move to cut the number of food waste bags issued should save the council around £200,000, although it remains to be seen how householders take to the changes.
Ian Gallacher, development officer from Fife Council’s arms-length company, Resource Efficient Solutions LLP (RES), who deliver the food waste bags, said: “About half of the food waste bags provided to households currently are not being used to recycle food waste.
“This means that half of these bags are being wasted.
“Reducing the number of bags provided will reduce the number of wasted bags and will help to meet the wider savings Fife Council has to make in its budget.
“As an alternative, householders can use newspaper or paper bags to wrap food waste. Some food can be put into the brown bin loose, for example dry foods such as bread.
“Many shops stock compostable liners that can be used too, as long as they carry the compostable packaging logo.
“This means that that the bag will compost in our Anaerobic Digestion Plant in Dunfermline and make compost to be used locally.”
Each roll contains 25 bags per roll or the equivalent of one-and-a-half bags per week – a number the local authority feels is sufficient after looking into the matter.
Mr Gallacher added that people should not use standard plastic bags to line their food caddy, as they are not compostable.
“We urge everyone to consider how they might be able to reduce their food waste,” he added.
“Food waste is a major issue– and the average Scottish household throws away £39 of food waste every month.
“The best thing that can happen to food is that it makes it to our plates and is enjoyed.”
Households will receive information explaining the changes to this service at the same time as their next delivery of food waste bags.
Bags are being delivered to homes in central Fife between now and July, with the next scheduled deliveries due to take place in east Fife between July and September and in west Fife between September and December.
According to Zero Waste Scotland, households in Scotland throw away 600,000 tonnes of food and drink from homes every year, and most of this could have been eaten.
That waste costs taxpayers over £1 billion a year, or over £460 for the average household.
Households with five or more people, or an occupant with a medical condition that generates additional food waste, can request an extra roll every 12 months.
Anyone in that situation, or anyone who wants to find out more about the changes, can contact the council’s recycling helpline on 03451 55 00 22 or visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/foodwaste.
