Residents in Somerset will soon receive their latest recycling and rubbish collections calendar – which sets out collection days for the next 18 months.
As well as providing collection days, the leaflet will focus on food waste recycling, encouraging everyone to do the right thing with their food waste.
Somerset residents were first provided a food waste recycling collection in 2004. During the last 20 years the county’s food waste recycling participation rate has been among the highest in England.
However, in Somerset, research shows that a large amount of waste is still thrown in the bin.
An estimated 16,000 tonnes of food waste was put in general waste bins.
Cllr Richard Wilkins, Executive Member for Transport and Waste Service said:
Many of us think we’re recyclers, but we know there is often something that’s missed when it comes to recycling food waste. Whether it’s the odd banana peel, or unpackaged food that’s gone out of date.
Most people in Somerset recycle, but it’s easy to slip into bad habits and we’re using this opportunity to remind everyone that recycling food waste is easy, convenient and great way to look after our environment.
No amount is too small! Recycling just 6 tea bags can produce enough power to boil a kettle for another cup of tea.
Statistics show that in Somerset a staggering 45% of the food in the rubbish bin has been discarded in its packaging.
Not only is recycling food waste better for the environment, but it’s also considerably cheaper for the council to recycle food waste instead of throwing it in the bin.
All of Somerset’s food waste is recycled via Anaerobic Digestion (AD) here in Somerset. The AD process produces bio-gas, a type of renewable energy and a nutrient rich fertiliser that can be used for crops.
Over the next year, Somerset Council alongside its household waste collections contractor, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, will be reminding residents to make the most of their food waste recycling collections.
Matthew Canning, SUEZ Contract Director, Somerset said:
The leaflet focusses on encouraging people to recycle their unavoidable food waste and specifically separating food waste from its packaging before recycling. We hope this campaign helps to further improve Somerset’s brilliant recycling rate and takes us another step closer to a more circular economy!
Residents can order a free kitchen caddy or food waste bin online via: www.somerset.gov.uk/order-bins.