Monthly bin collections for around 2,000 homes are being trialled by Fife Council.

The pilot scheme, among the first in the UK, means some households in the Glenrothes area will have their landfill waste collected every four weeks instead of fortnightly.

A further 2,000 properties will have their rubbish picked up every three weeks.

However, recycling bins will be collected more often during the nine-month trial.

The communities involved in the trial are Markinch and Coaltown of Balgonie, and Thornton and Stenton.

Landfill currently costs the local authority £10 million a year and despite Fife having above average recycling rates, council leaders said analysis has revealed more than half of the rubbish in blue landfill bins could be recycled.

Ken Gourlay, head of assets, transportation and environment at the council, said: "People across Fife have been telling us they want plastics and cans collected more often, so our trials are responding to this.

"In a doorstep survey we found over 66% of green bins were full or overly full at collection time. So, on one trial route we'll empty them every three weeks, and on the other route we'll empty them fortnightly.

"This is a pilot to get more information so that we can meet the needs of local people, develop a cleaner, greener Fife as well as reduce our waste disposal costs. If we fail to increase recycling rates in Fife, then we are throwing money away."

Households producing medical waste, those with children in nappies or with larger families will be able to request bigger blue bins.