Borough Council praises residents for getting on board with new recycling scheme

Route to recycling food waste total in just a month is same weight as 33 double deckers. (Barton Bus image: Credit: Chris Sampson)

Food waste that has been recycled thanks to Erewash residents using dedicated new bins has topped 257 tonnes in just over a month – equivalent in weight to THIRTY-THREE double-decker buses.

The borough council issued an update showing how local people have got on board with veg peelings, plate scrapings and other leftovers including tea bags being turned into biofuel and fertiliser.

The authority’s weekly collections, which started in April, have been an even bigger success than previously thought. The amount of food waste sent for recycling in the first two weeks was initially said to be 54 tonnes – the weight of more than 50 cars – but that was an underestimate.

Fresh official data received by the authority reveals the true figure was a colossal 85 tonnes. Since then an average of more than 50 tonnes a WEEK has been collected. It means the grand total a month on weighs as much as a fleet of Routemaster double-deckers like those that Barton buses used to operate.

Cllr Mark Alfrey, Erewash’s Lead Member for Environment, said: “Instead of food waste going in our residents’ black bins – which are emptied fortnightly – they can now go in the new green bins, which are emptied weekly. This is clearly something local people have welcomed as just the ticket.”

One woman who took to the internet after the scheme was launched commented: “Great to support the food waste recycling – so easy to do! And it doesn’t smell due to weekly collection!!” Another said of her new bin: “It’s brilliant. I love mine, it’s emptied weekly, no smelly waste in black bin – thank you!”

Cllr Alfrey also pointed to the eco benefits. He said: “Food waste recycling makes big environmental differences. The peril of food waste is that it can release methane when it breaks down – and this is a greenhouse gas 25 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. By redirecting organic waste to properly managed processes, we reduce pressures on our environment and produce renewable energy.”

He added: “The rollout of the new food waste bin scheme has been a mammoth operation, which has seen six brand new vehicles added to our fleet. Admittedly there have been a few hiccups as new crews familiarise themselves with their rounds. We are grateful for the patience of any residents whose collections may have initially been missed.”