Efforts to boost the amount of food waste recycled in Somerset have been recognised nationally in the Awards for Excellence – the waste and recycling industry’s most prestigious awards.
Somerset Council and its household waste collections contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, have been shortlisted in the Food Waste and Organics Initiative of the Year category for work to boost food waste participation in the county.
Despite Somerset’s strong 72% participation rate in kerbside recycling collections, Somerset Council and SUEZ set out to tackle the 21% (by weight) of food waste that still ends up in household rubbish.
Almost half of the food waste put out with the rubbish is thrown away in its packaging, and up to £1 million could be saved annually if this was recycled instead.
The campaign recognises the many barriers to recycling participation and builds on the county’s strong history for backing recycling initiatives and helping to keep Somerset green and sustainable.
During the first 7 months of the year-long campaign, it has seen an impressive:
- Increase of 5% 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
Cllr Richard Wilkins, Executive Member for Transport and Waste services said:
We’re absolutely delighted that our efforts have been recognised with this shortlisting for the Awards for Excellence.
It’s a testament to the hard work and forward-thinking of both our teams and the Somerset community, who have embraced food waste recycling. By working together, we’re not just reducing waste, but making real savings and supporting a greener Somerset for future generations.
Matthew Canning, SUEZ Contract Director for Somerset said:
Being shortlisted for this award is thanks to the expertise, collaboration and dedication shown across our partnership and the commitment of Somerset residents.
We’re moving in the right direction to increase the amount of food waste we’re recycling, but there is always more we can do. Ensuring food is recycled properly means that we can generate more sustainable energy and other useful by-products, rather than letting it go to waste. It’s fantastic to have our efforts recognised with a prestigious nomination, but the key message remains – please recycle your food waste.
The winners of the 2026 Awards for Excellence will be announced in May, with the nominees listed via the Awards for Excellence’s Shortlist 2026 page.
