Waste Disposal in Fife

President Brian Munro opened the meeting and welcomed our guest speaker, Mr Paul Doherty, Environment & Strategy Officer, Climate Change & Zero Waste Team, Fife Council.  

A total of 28 members and 2 guests attended the meeting.

Past President Rev Bryan Tomlinson said Grace and in deference to today being Holocaust Day our blessing this week was in Jewish.

Our "club ceramic cow" was fed by 2 members - one celebrating a successful new pacemaker and the other the cutting of the first sod at the new Ecology Centre at Kinghorn.

Secretary Rod Scott announced that this year we are sending 4 candidates to Ryla at Nethy Bridge (Youth Leadership course) as we have had a fantastic response from 3 Kirkcaldy high schools, having a total of 20 applicants. He encouraged members to try to attend Nethy Bridge as it can be a rewarding and interesting experience.

Past President Iain Gow introduced Mr Doherty who gave a most interesting and enjoyable talk and presentation on the history and goals for waste management. He explained that the Industrial Revolution started the problem and it took successive Governments 100 years to bring in legislation. During the war years, basically 1914 through to 1945, there was very little waste, everything being recycled and re-used but thereafter we became a consumer society and this brought about the need to manage waste effectively. In 1995 the Environment Protection Act was brought into force. Scotland is leading the way in the UK in waste management. He went on to explain the diverse methods Fife Council employ to deal with waste effectively and efficiently.

Past President Iain Gow gave the vote of thanks, stating that the many and varied questions from members was a good indication of the interest in the subject.

The speaker for our next meeting will be member Mark Rossiter.