CHANGES are being made across West Fife recycling centres in 2018 to crack down on illegal disposal of commercial waste.

Starting next month, a number of measures are set to be introduced by Fife Council due to commercial businesses disposing of waste without purchasing a relevant Recycling Permit.

Height barriers are to be put in place from January, requiring any vehicle more than 1.9 metres high, to stop at the site entrance until met by a member of staff who may ask to see a valid permit.

Automatic number plate recognition is also set for implementation early next year.

The technology will capture and store the registration number of vehicles to monitor the use being made of the sites by any one vehicle.

In some cases, people using the site may be asked to complete a household waste declaration form, and in such cases, proof of address, such as a household bill or driving licence, will be required.

Over the next six months, plans are in place to introduce an electronic permit system, which will enable commercial users to make use of the sites more easily by swiping the card.

Recycling permits will be available for purchase at the current cost for the six-month period from April.

Councillor Ross Vettraino, the convenor of Fife Council’s environment, protective services and community safety committee, explained: "The current misuse of the sites by commercial users creates legal and financial consequences for the council.

"For example, in financial year 2016/17, it cost the council £1.96 million to dispose of the commercial waste, which was deposited at the recycling centres, but only £94,000 of income was generated from the sale of Recycling Permits, which means that it cost the council tax payers in Fife £1.87 million to subsidise the disposal of commercial waste in that year. The council, therefore, simply had to look at ways to eliminate that subsidy, as neighbouring local authorities have done."