Fife Council driving improvements in waste collection

And they've got an idea on how to get their newly trained staff to stay the distance and not depart for another job.

Shaun Kenyon, from the council's waste operations, told the South and West Fife area committee: "Across the industry it's very hard to recruit drivers as, unfortunately, they tend to go to whoever is offering the highest salaries with the best conditions.

"Our solution? We have an in-house training package where any employee who has a driving licence that would like to gain an LGV licence, we will pay for and put them through that training.

Fife Council will buy 13 more bin lorries and aim to train their staff to drive them. (Image: Fife Council)

"So far it's been very successful. In the past six months four people have become drivers in the team and that certainly eases the pressure in terms of getting vehicles out of the depot."

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Committee convener David Barratt asked: "Has there been any staff who have gone through the training and subsequently left for one of those better paid jobs?"

Mr Kenyon replied: "Anyone we pay for to get their LGV licence has to sign a document committing to work within Fife Council for two years.

"If they decide to leave within those two years they have to repay the funding."

Councillors were given an update on the performance of the domestic waste, street cleansing and grounds maintenance service over the past year.

They backed plans to add 13 more refuse collection lorries and proposals to bid for a "significant" amount of capital money to replace other parts of the ageing fleet and drive further improvements.

Cllr Brian Goodall said the domestic waste service had seen a "vast improvement" and he had received far fewer complaints about bins being missed by refuse collectors.

He also passed on praise from local residents who were very pleased with the improvement works and clean-ups carried out at the Public Park in Rosyth.

Officers highlighted another success story, the free bulky uplift scheme launched last April, with residents able to get unwanted items such as sofas and fridges taken away for nothing.

Mr Kenyon said: "For the full year 2022-23 we uplifted 1,619 bulky items and from April 2023 to now we've uplifted 5,819 items, so a four-fold increase which means a lot more people are using this free service."

The free bulky uplift scheme in Fife has contributed to a reduction in fly-tipping, although it's not yet clear how big an impact the move has had. (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Barratt said he'd like to see more detail to find out just how big an impact the initiative has had on reducing fly-tipping in Fife.

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Amid the good news, the committee was told of old and broken down vehicles and machinery - "two or three vehicles are long term unserviceable" - with problems sourcing spare parts and the "wettest October on record" hampering attempts to cut grass in public areas.

There is also a "big debate" to be had with elected members and the public about the use of herbicides, particularly glyphosate which is alleged to have links to cancer, for weed management.

As well as HGV drivers, the committee heard there was a struggle to recruit the 65 to 70 seasonal workers that are needed for six months of grounds maintenance work each year, although teaming up with colleagues in housing to carry out improvement works in council estates had been a positive.

Cllr Goodall also questioned why it was taking so long to replace bins in public areas.

Archie Melville, the street cleansing team manager, admitted: "There has been a difficulty in sourcing bins.

"Our suppliers are in England and there was a delay in receiving new bins, almost double the time."

He said replacement bins in public places will be metal and all will have "seagull-proof flaps".