THE booking system to use Fife Council recycling centres will be scrapped for cars from Friday.

After recent easing of restrictions, cars will no longer have to make a reservation however vans and trailers are still required to book a slot.

Councillor Ross Vettraino, Convenor of the Council’s Environment and Protective Services Sub-committee, explained: “Vans and trailers can take a long time to unload and giving them open access could impede the smooth flow of traffic through the centres, and result in traffic queuing on roads outside the centres.

“The operation of the vehicles, which haul the waste from the centres to the landfill disposal sites, is currently seriously affected by the national shortage of HGV drivers.

"It is important to ensure the smooth flow of waste through the centres, so that the waste containers don’t become full before a haulage vehicle is available to replace the full container with an empty one, which could mean that the centre would have to close.

“Retaining the booking system for vans and trailers ensures the smooth flow of both vehicles and waste.

“Work looking at creating safe access for cyclists and pedestrians at those sites, where it would be possible to do so, is moving ahead as quickly as possible.”

The booking system will also remain in place for all vehicles which are designated by the DVLA as commercial vehicles so that site operations can be carried out safely and to ensure environmental compliance.

Fife Council says maintaining the booking system for these commercial vehicles will also help prevent waste being disposed of illegally as well as reduce violence and aggression against staff.