Fife and plastic recycling

That this House congratulates Fife Council on becoming the first Council in Scotland to collect a wider range of plastics for kerbside recycling, which now includes flexible plastic and film; notes that the new recycling facility based in Dunfermline will sort and bale plastics which will go on to be recycled by YES Recycling in Glenrothes; further notes that these will be turned into Ecosheet – a plywood alternative that can be used in construction, DIY, agriculture and fabrication; highlights that this important work is a step towards developing a circular economy, which will reduce carbon emissions and help to tackle climate change, as well as provide a financial saving for the Council by avoiding costs for disposal and landfill tax each year; commends the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund, administered by Zero Waste Scotland, which awarded Fife Council £470,000 to purchase the Tomra Optical Sorter which segregates flexible plastics for recycling; thanks the arm’s length external organisation, Cireco, in delivering this hugely beneficial project; notes the aims of the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund to help communities move towards a circular economy where materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible while moving away from short-term, wasteful, throwaway approaches to waste; thanks Fife Council, YES Recycling, Zero Waste Scotland and all involved for leading the way in waste recycling across Scotland and the UK; and hopes that many other Council areas across the whole of the UK may follow suit.