Residents encouraged to get involved as city’s weekly food waste collections begin

Wolverhampton’s food waste collection service starts today (26 October) and residents are being encouraged to join in and discover the benefits of recycling their leftovers.

The weekly collections are being introduced under the government’s Simpler Recycling legislation, which requires councils all across the country to deliver the service.

The collections aim to help people recycle their scraps and plate scrapings, mouldy food, fruit and vegetable peelings, meat and fish bones, eggshells, teabags, coffee grounds and uneaten pet food.

Recycling food waste has a number of benefits including helping to turn leftovers into useful products such as green energy and natural fertiliser. It also helps cut carbon footprints and improves soil health.

Weekly collections can help reduce household bin smells, as regular collections help to keep things fresher. They can also help to create more space in domestic waste bins.

And recycling food waste can help household finances. Millions of tonnes of food waste are thrown away each year, costing the average family around £1,000 annually according to figures from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Once food waste is collected, it will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility. This process generates sustainable energy, fertiliser and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The food waste pick-ups will take place on peoples’ usual collection day and are available to all kerbside properties initially. There will be a further roll out to flats and other communal properties during the coming months.

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We’d encourage as many residents as possible to have a go at using the food waste collections to see what a help they can be.

“All those tea bags, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings and meat and fish bones can take up space in household bins, but they will find a good home in the caddies and help free up extra room.

“The separate weekly waste collection will help keep bin smells to a minimum as people can get uneaten food out of their homes quickly and easily. Plus, recycling food waste can create additional energy and fertiliser to support the growth of new crops.

“Government legislation requires all local councils to introduce food waste collections, and we hope this service will help as many residents as possible to recycle their food waste in a simple and convenient way.”

The food waste collection service adds to the council’s existing recycling programmes including its bin contamination campaign Check before you chuck, schools education programme campaign Recycle Rovers and its free small electricals and batteries collection service.

Information about the food waste service, including Frequently Asked Questions, is also available at Food waste .