Council Proposes New Measure To Improve Food Waste Recycling
Mar 11, 2025
The council is set to introduce an initiative to reduce the incorrect disposal of food waste, improve recycling rates, and contribute to the circular economy.
Director of Environmental Services Aidan McPeake outlined the strategy at this evening's Environmental Services committee meeting, detailing how simple measures such as applying labels to household black bins could steer residents towards using the designated brown bin for food and garden waste.
A waste compositional analysis in July 2024 revealed that 22.5% of the contents of black bins and 4.4% of those in blue bins were comprised of food waste.
A report highlighted that every household has received a 240-litre brown bin—along with a 5-litre food caddy and free biodegradable liners—to facilitate the recycling of food and garden waste since autumn 2018.
The collected material is processed locally into organic composts and soil conditioners.
“The study clearly highlighted the issue of food waste being disposed of in the wrong bins,” Mr McPeake said. “By affixing clear instructional labels to black bins, we hope to redirect the flow of food waste into the brown bin system. This not only enhances our recycling rates but could also result in financial savings of around £60 per tonne—potentially saving the council up to £300,000 annually.”
Councillor Richard Holmes queried the continuity of existing bin inspections during the meeting with Mr McPeake, confirming that regular checks remain in place.
Mr McPeake said, “Our staff routinely inspect the bins, particularly the blue ones, to ensure compliance.”
Mr McPeake also noted that the council is exploring the possibility of employing additional staff—using funds from extended fiduciary responsibility income—to undertake door-to-door visits in areas with lower recycling performance.
The initiative echoes a similar province-wide programme coordinated by WRAP in 2017, which led to an immediate one-third reduction in the misdirected food waste deposited in black bins.
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