More households are set to benefit from weekly food waste collections as Havant Borough Council expands its successful food waste recycling pilot scheme.
The service, which was introduced to around 10,000 households in Cowplain, Crookhorn, Purbrook, Stakes, Waterlooville and Wecock, is now being extended to a further 1,600 properties, in the same area, with communal entrances. The first collections for these households will take place from the week commencing 20 July.
The expansion means thousands more residents will be able to recycle their food waste, helping to reduce the amount of rubbish placed in black household bins and supporting the council's environmental ambitions.
The success of the new collection service so far has resulted in more than 100 tonnes of food waste being collected already … that’s the weight of 20 African elephants!
Food waste collected through the scheme is processed using anaerobic digestion, where it is converted into renewable energy that is fed into the National Grid, as well as nutrient-rich fertiliser for use on farmland.
The service is delivered in partnership with neighbouring authority Portsmouth City Council, which collects the food waste in a separate vehicle on the same day as residents' existing rubbish and recycling collections. The arrangement makes it simple and convenient for households to incorporate food waste recycling into their everyday routine.
Councillor Netty Shepherd, Cabinet lead for Public Realm, said, “Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the new food waste collection service. It has been a big change for our residents, and we’re grateful for their support and patience as the service gets established.
“It’s great to see so many households getting involved. By recycling food waste, residents are helping to reduce waste in their black bins and support a more sustainable borough with waste being used to generate energy and liquid fertiliser for farms rather than being processed with other household waste.”
Residents are already reporting the benefits of weekly collections, with many saying their black bins are less full and that separating food waste helps reduce smells in their kitchen.
Councillor Shepherd added, “We would also like to encourage all of our residents, borough-wide, to use the Love Food Hate Waste website to help reduce the amount of food waste they produce and save money at the same time: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com"
Households are using the service in ways that suit them best. Some residents are reusing plastic bags, such as bread bags, to keep their caddies clean, others are using liners, whilst some prefer to use the caddy without a bag and rinse it as needed.
Residents are reminded that it is quick and easy to report common issues, such as missed collections, by logging in to the portal. Prompt reporting helps crews return as soon as possible and supports ongoing service improvements.
For more information about the food waste collection service, visit www.havant.gov.uk/foodwaste. If you would like to receive regular recycling updates straight into your inbox, why not sign up for our Recycle Right news bulletin at Havant Borough Council.