FIFE COUNCIL
South West Fife Area Committee
10 October 2007
Agenda Item 8
Environmental Services –
Household Waste Collection Services
1. Introduction
1.1 The purpose of the report is to advise members about the impact if the changes to the
household waste collection service in the South West Fife Area. It will provide an update on
recycling performance and address two issues of concern that have been raised in connection with
the changes.
2. Background
2.1 In July 2007 households in the South West Fife area were subject to changes to waste
collection services, following a route already taken in other parts of Fife. The reason for the change
was to enable and encourage householders to recycle more waste to reduce the risk that the
council would fail to meet landfill division targets, and to reduce greenhouse gases emitted from
the council’s landfills.
3. Outcomes
3.1 From recycling perspective the changes have been very successful and mirror experiences
form other areas. The undernoted table sets out changes in recycling and composting performance
in the former West administrative area.
July 06
June 07
July 07
Annual Change
Recycling Rate
37%
38&
42%
5%
Paper
606 tonnes
647 tonnes
803 tonnes
33%
Green
892 tonnes
98 tonnes
1192 tonnes
33%
Glass
163 tonnes
182 tonnes
211 tonnes
29%
Cans/Plastics
17 tonnes
61 tonnes
80 tonnes
370%
3.2 It is clear from the above that the recent changes in South West Fife have contributed
significantly to increased recycling and composting performance.
4. Areas of Concern
4.1 Despite the very high performance improvements there have been issues of concern that have
been raised about the new service. These include complaints about the presence of maggots in
residual waste bins, and the increased pressure on Recycling Centres.
5. Maggots and Other Pests
5.1 Maggots can be present in domestic waste and whilst unpleasant are not normally associated
with increased health risk. Risk of disease does arise when adult flies come into contact with food
that is intended for human consumption.
5.2 The risk of the presence of maggots in waste bins can minimised by the adoption of a few,
basic precautions, including the following:

Ensuring that uncovered food is not left out in the home, where adult flies could be
attracted.

Ensuring that food and kitchen waste is wrapped and bagged before being placed in the
wheeled bin.

Ensuring that the wheeled bin lid is kept closed and the storage of bagged waste outside
avoided.

Ensuring that bins are not overfilled since this results in the lid being left partially open.
5.3 Where householders do come across maggots or experience other problems with their waste
service we are keen to hear from them so that we can provide advice, including where appropriate
a visit by a Recycling Adviser.
5.4 With regard to the risk of increased fly development from maggots that may be present in
waste containers, the Service employed an independent entomologist in 2006 to assess the effects
of changed collection frequencies for residual waste. His study found that a two week residual
waste collection frequency was not long enough for house flies to complete their life cycles within
domestic bins. In other words, even if maggots develop in waste stored within a bin, they will not
produce adult flies before the scheduled collection service is due.
5.5. Members are advised that between 2 July 2007 and 21 September 2007 the Service received
three complaints about the presence of maggots in bins in West Fife. Members will be aware that
this is set against the changes to waste collection services to 23,000 houses in South West Fife at
that time. In the former East administrative area where over 10,000 households have been on the
changed service since 2005, no complaints about the presence of maggots in bins have been
received for over two years.
5.6 In addition to waste management, the Service is also responsible for pest control. Every
request for service is recorded. In the period 1 June to 21 September 2006, 1583 requests for
service were received on the West Area to deal with pests. In the same period this year the
number was 1331. Our pest control operators further report that they have not witnessed an
increase in the number of maggot complaints since the change to the collection service.
6. Recycling Points
6.1 The use of Recycling Points has as expected increased significantly since the service was
rolled out. In the vast majority of cases this has been accommodated. In some areas there are
challenges, for example in a small number of cases general waste has been dumped. In those
cases we will be targeting Environment Wardens who will issue fixed penalty notices on anyone
found to be illegally dumping. In other cases, for example in Dalgety Bay we recognise that
additional facilities would help. We are in discussion with the Community Council in an attempt to
supply more facilities to ease pressure on existing ones and where possible will increase the
collection frequency of the heaviest used faciliites. The opening of the new Recycling Centre in
Dalgety Bay planned for late October will ease matters. However, as always we are keen to follow
up any suggestions for additional recycling points.
7. Next Steps
7.1 Service is keen to hear of any challenges and problems experienced by householders in
coming to terms with the new service. We have a team of 12 Recycling Advisers who are on hand
to provide help and would encourage people to contact us on 08541 55 00 22.
7.2 On completion of the roll out in East Fife in spring 2008 we will be conducting a review of the
new collection services. This will include obtaining feedback from householders on their
experiences and how the services could be improved. The outcome of the review will be discussed
with elected members and will be reported publicly.
8. Recommendation
8.1 Members are invited to note the content of this report.
Fraser Thomson
Head of Environmental Services
Author:
Chris Ewing
Environmental Sustainability Manager
September 2007