Somerset partnership leads the way with food waste recycling

Somerset Council in partnership with household waste collections contractor, SUEZ were finalists in the Food Waste and Organics Initiative of the Year category. The partnership was up against a shortlist of 9 and were thrilled to be among many forward thinking projects.

Cllr Richard Wilkins, Lead member for Transport and Waste Services said:

We are incredibly proud to have been recognised at these national awards. Being shortlisted alongside so many innovative projects is a real achievement for Somerset.

This campaign has helped more residents take simple steps to recycle their food waste, and we will continue building on this progress. Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign and helped make a difference across Somerset.

Matthew Canning, Contract Director at SUEZ said:

We’re very proud to have been recognised in these awards. It is testament to the fantastic partnership between Somerset Council and SUEZ, and to the contribution of Somerset residents, who are doing an incredible job to recycle their food waste and help make the county cleaner, greener and more sustainable.  The campaign has highlighted that small, daily recycling habits can add to have a big impact.

The campaign focused on helping residents better understand how easy it is to recycle food waste at home using their weekly collections. Through a mix of clear messaging, practical tips, and engaging content, the campaign aimed to boost participation and reduce the amount of food waste ending up in general rubbish.

Food waste collections play a vital role in Somerset’s recycling system. When recycled, food waste is turned into clean, green energy and soil improver, which helps to cut carbon emissions.

During the first 7 months of the year-long campaign, it has had an impressive:

• 5% increase in certain targeted recycling rounds
• A 38% rise in year‑on‑year food waste bin orders
• A 5% increase in food waste collected between June and October, saving more than £40,000 in disposal costs
• A fall in the amount of general rubbish collected during June to October

The Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management celebrate innovation, best practice and outstanding achievements across the waste and recycling sector.