The changes will come into effect from April this year after the council approved the removal of charges this week. The service anticipates a three-fold increase in demand with the removal of charges, and additional staff and vehicles will be in place to help cope with this increase.

About 14,200 bulky uplifts take place each year in Fife, with almost 35,000 items collected over 2021/22. This service collects bulky household items - such as couches and mattresses - that are too big to fit into a wheeled bin and cannot be transported to a recycling centre.

Cllr Jan Wincott, the council’s spokesperson for the Environment and Climate Change, said: “The removal of bulky uplift charges from April 2023 will relieve pressure on our recycling centres, support residents with financial challenges and help them to dispose of their waste responsibly.

“Over a quarter of households in Fife do not have access to a car or van and struggle to take bulky items to the recycling centres themselves. On top of this, the current cost of living crisis may see some residents unable to pay for the uplift of bulky items they cannot dispose of in their domestic waste bins.

“We’d encourage people first and foremost to try to pass their goods on to someone else, if possible. Although you may no longer have a use for something, it could possibly help out someone else. There are a host of groups that allow people to pass on household goods and our charities are also always happy to receive items in good condition.

“Other free alternatives to dispose of unwanted goods include second-hand furniture outlets and disposal at our recycling centres and recycling points.”

The free of charge bulky uplift service is designed to help people who cannot take their non-recyclable and unwanted items to a recycling centre or recycling point, either because the item is too large or they have no means of transport.

Bulky uplifts will continue to be ordered online via www.fife.gov.uk/bulkyuplift and the current points system will continue to be used. Uplifts will be scheduled on a first come first served basis and 180 booking slots will be available on a daily basis to manage demand across Fife. The list of items that can be uplifted will remain the same and black bag landfill material will continue to be accepted.

The council continues to encourage people to recycle or check to see if any item can be re-used first. Fife Council promotes a circular economy and encourages residents to keep goods out of landfill by upcycling, recycling or re-using.

Donating to charity is a positive choice, especially when many charities will collect from homes free of charge. The council is committed to tackling the climate emergency. By extending the life of the items we want to throw away as much as possible everyone can reduce e their carbon footprint and help tackle the climate emergency.