FIFE Council has increased the number of collection points where local people can get free food waste bags, for use in brown bins at home.

There are now eight collection points across the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, making food waste bags more accessible.

Householders can visit www.fifedirect.org.uk/foodwaste to find their nearest collection point.

Distribution points were reviewed and agreed by members of local Area Committees, and householders can continue to collect up to three free rolls of food waste bags every year.

Food waste can also be put loose into the kerbside brown bin, or, alternatively, the food caddy can be lined with paper or newspaper.

Free food waste bags collection point for the Cowdenbeath Area are, Cowdenbeath Recycling Centre, Lochgelly Recycling Centre, Benarty Customer Service Centre, Corrie Centre (Cardenden), Crossgates Community Leisure Centre, Jenny Lee Library (Lochgelly Centre), Kelty Community Centre and the Maxwell Centre, Cowdenbeath

Cllr Ross Vettraino, convener of Fife Council’s Environment, Protective Services and Community Safety Committee, said: “These collection points will make it easier for householders to get their food waste bags and to recycle their food waste.

"Fife Council also wants to remind people to only put waste food into the food caddy. No sauces still in their plastic pots, or food wrapped in the plastic carton or bag. Unlike food, plastic does not break down to make compost.”

Fife’s food and garden waste goes to the Anaerobic Digestion unit in Dunfermline, which makes green heat and electricity as well as compost.

This waste is placed in an enclosed unit called a fermenter. Gas is captured from the food and garden waste during the digestion process. This is used to generate electricity that is fed to the electricity network. Heat from this process is used to heat the plant and local buildings. Once energy and heat are produced the material is composted into soil conditioner that is collected and used by Fife farmers.

Fife Council is also asking local people to look at ways of reducing food waste - portion and meal planning, as well as reusing left overs, can save money as well as waste https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com Reducing the amount of food that ends up in the bin also means less unnecessary packaging waste.