Another Fife farmer has hit out at moves that will result in rural families having to leave their rubbish at their road end to protect binmen from bumpy farm tracks.
Ian Crombie, of West Hall, near Cupar, believes the countryside could be ruined by wheeled bins that will “litter” the roadsides.
Some 5,400 households in Fife’s countryside will have new refuse and recycling arrangements from June 24, which will see them issued with two extra wheeled bins.
The new system is to prevent prolonged exposure of refuse collectors to whole-body vibrations from travelling over rough road surfaces, which it is said could cause health problems such as back pain.
It is also part of the roll-out of a more comprehensive recycling service across the region that will provide householders with bins for cans, plastics, paper and cardboard.
It will be introduced at homes where access roads are considered too narrow, in poor condition or lacking in turning space for lorries.
But Mr Crombie has added his voice to fears about the potential impact of thousands of coloured bins littering some of Fife’s most scenic areas, as many people are expected to leave their bins out rather than taking them back and forth.
Mr Crombie said that between West Hall and Over Rankeilour farms alone, there are 10 properties with around 21 coloured bins likely to be left at the road end near the Scottish Deer Centre.
He said: “For a start, there’s nowhere to park a refuse vehicle or turn them. It’s not been thought through at all. It’s got to be reconsidered.
“Between here and St Andrews we could literally have thousands of bins at the side of the road and, with the winds we’ve been having recently, they could so easily be blown around on to the carriageways.
“I think they should provide bigger bins for a central system on farms where cottages can bring their rubbish for uplift at a central point.”
Fife Council has stated that the new rural collection system will bring a recycling service to householders living in the countryside, bringing them into line with the rest of Fife.
Householders have until April 28 to appeal the decision to put in place a road-end collection service for their property.