Weekly food waste collections to be rolled-out

10:41am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By James Cox

HOMES and flats will receive weekly food waste collections after the success of a year long council trial.

The scheme was approved by Colchester Council’s cabinet on Wednesday and will be rolled out across the borough in the summer.

Collections are expected to take in around 4,500 tonnes of food waste a year.

The Department for Communities and Local Government awarded the scheme £2,353,122 in November which will be used to buy collection vehicles and recycling containers.

Comments(6)

pinkteapot says...
12:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Good news. We're in the trial area so have had this for a while now. I'm always amazed at the weight of our food recycling. We don't waste food. All that's in ours are veg peelings, meat skin/bones and occasionally the end of a loaf of bread. It's still a considerable weight of waste that would otherwise be in landfill. The bins supplied are good with well-fitting lids so there's no smell. The only downside is the compostable bags you have to line the caddy with. £2 for a roll of 20 from the supermarket - more expensive than normal bin liners.

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rowhedge-dave says...
12:55pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Sorry, I don't get this at all.

What's the matter with a compost heap?

Surely more damage is caused to the planet by the collection and processing rather than simply composting.

And what about the financial cost, a lorry and operatives just to collect a few bread rolls and an apple!

The regime is really a case on 'the kings new cloak'.

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TheCaptain says...
1:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13

rowhedge-dave wrote:
Sorry, I don't get this at all.

What's the matter with a compost heap?

Surely more damage is caused to the planet by the collection and processing rather than simply composting.

And what about the financial cost, a lorry and operatives just to collect a few bread rolls and an apple!

The regime is really a case on 'the kings new cloak'.
I think this a good idea and have been on the trial. Well not everyone has a garden and room for composting. I do compost what I can but there is stuff that can't be composting. Bones and cooked food, Usually left by the children.

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pinkteapot says...
4:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Very few people seem to compost these days (myself included). Great if you do but, if not, surely better that the waste is recycled than dumped in landfill?

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Boris says...
12:48am Fri 25 Jan 13

rowhedge-dave wrote:
Sorry, I don't get this at all.

What's the matter with a compost heap?

Surely more damage is caused to the planet by the collection and processing rather than simply composting.

And what about the financial cost, a lorry and operatives just to collect a few bread rolls and an apple!

The regime is really a case on 'the kings new cloak'.
Dave, you are right. There will be a cost to collecting all this food waste.
All our fruit or vegetable waste goes in the compost. All bones, scraps from our plates etc go to a bare bit of garden for the birds, cats or foxes. Our black bags are never ripped open because no food goes into them.
Of course people in flats can't compost, but the rest of us can. Compost is good for our gardens so why not do it?

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Im_Like_HELLO says...
6:13pm Fri 25 Jan 13

There is a carbon footprint associated with the collection of any type of waste. If you have room for a garden composter then there is no need to throw food away or give it to the council. It's a good idea for flats, though.

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