FIFE Council’s free bulky uplift scheme has proved popular but it's had no impact on the level of fly tipping.

The £15 charge was waived but Sandy Anderson, the local authority's domestic waste and street cleansing service manager, told councillors there has been "no decrease" in the illegal dumping of waste. 

He said the council went from handling 14,000 bulky uplifts last year to 55,000 this year – a fourfold increase - but it was not working as intended in relation to stopping fly tipping. 

Mr Anderson admitted: “There has been no decrease, which was part of the reason for making the scheme free rather than the previous £15 charge, in the hope it would reduce fly tipping."

READ MORE: Almost 15,000 complaints of fly-tipping - not one ended in court action

Dunfermline Press: Rubbish dumped at Townhill Loch. Fife Council brought in a free bulky uplift scheme in April 2023. Rubbish dumped at Townhill Loch. Fife Council brought in a free bulky uplift scheme in April 2023. (Image: Newsquest)

The free scheme began in April 2023 when uplift charges were scrapped in an effort to reduce fly tipping around the Kingdom, and also to relieve pressures on recycling centres. 

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It has been successful from a recycling aspect but Mr Anderson said he wasn't surprised that it's had no real impact on the dumb dumpers. 

He explained: “I never believed that it would help because I think fly tipping is caused predominantly by businesses rather than householders.  

“When we see the types of fly tipped waste it’s unscrupulous people who are not willing to pay gate fees at landfill sites rather than domestic waste.” 

Mr Anderson said his service is keeping pace with demand. 

More information about the successes and failures of the bulky uplift scheme are to be presented to the environment, transportation and climate change scrutiny committee in two weeks time.