MoreThanWaste.com - Cardiff should trial weekly food waste collections (12/11/2007)

"This scheme should significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable or non-composted waste. The key will be educating people"

Councillor Simon Wakefield, Chair of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee

Cardiff, Wales: Weekly collections of food waste and fortnightly collections of residual waste have been recommended by a Cardiff County Council committee, subject to trials.

If the trials are accepted by the Cardiff Executive and are successful, the weekly food waste collection system would be rolled out across the Council’s area.

The Environmental Scrutiny Committee (ESC), investigating the options for the collection of food waste, took evidence from Swansea Council and WRAP, amongst others, when considering the options put forward by their own waste management unit.

The option chosen, weekly collection of food and green wastes together with dry recyclables and fortnightly collection of residual wastes, was considered to be the optimum option by the ESC. However this did have additional costs, in part due to a required additional household collection every fortnight.

In giving evidence from their experience of fortnightly collection of food waste, Swansea felt the quantity collected would be greater with weekly collections, in fact the most successful projects by other councils have been with weekly collections according to the ESC. This would also reduce the fears of some residents regarding odours and potential infestations.

Food waste

Nappies

Collection of disposal nappies and other sanitary items was considered to be problematic and the Committee looked at the possibility of weekly collection of residual wastes where there were babies living in a dwelling.

The ESC however has no decision making powers and can only therefore make recommendations to the Executive of the Council.

WRAP

According to Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP), each year in the UK we throw away about one third of all the food we buy and at least half of this food is still fit for human consumption. In landfill the waste produces methane which is around 21 times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas and hence significant to climate change.

Research has shown that a typical household throws away between £250 and £400 a year of food which could have been eaten. WRAP estimates that 16% of waste sent to landfill is food waste.

LATS

Under the Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2004 each authority in Wales has been set a level of waste which is permitted to be landfilled.

To avoid fines of £200 per tonne, Cardiff must reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill to meet the 2009/10 target of 71,000 tonnes, as in 2006/07 the council landfilled 153,000 tonnes.

IVC

Earlier this year the Cardiff Executive said that invitations for tender could be issued for the design & build or design, build & operation of an In-Vessel Composting (IVC) Facility at Lamby Way. This is the likely facility to be used for the treatment of the collected food waste.

Education

The Committee found based on Swansea's experience that, for success there is a need to educate and support members of the public and they need to be fully aware of the reasoning behind the changes. Face to face interaction was found to be the best approach.

Another important factor is the attitude of the workforce as they are the primary public interface. Collection crews also need to be fully aware of the reasoning behind the introduction of food waste collections, according to the EDC.

Councillor Simon Wakefield, Chair of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee said:

“This scheme should significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable or non-composted waste. The key will be educating people."


	Cardiff should trial weekly food waste collections (12/11/2007) "This scheme should significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable or non-composted waste. The key will be educating people" Councillor Simon Wakefield, Chair of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee Cardiff, Wales: Weekly collections of food waste and fortnightly collections of residual waste have been recommended by a Cardiff County Council committee, subject to trials. If the trials are accepted by the Cardiff Executive and are successful, the weekly food waste collection system would be rolled out across the Council’s area. The Environmental Scrutiny Committee (ESC), investigating the options for the collection of food waste, took evidence from Swansea Council and WRAP, amongst others, when considering the options put forward by their own waste management unit. The option chosen, weekly collection of food and green wastes together with dry recyclables and fortnightly collection of residual wastes, was considered to be the optimum option by the ESC. However this did have additional costs, in part due to a required additional household collection every fortnight. In giving evidence from their experience of fortnightly collection of food waste, Swansea felt the quantity collected would be greater with weekly collections, in fact the most successful projects by other councils have been with weekly collections according to the ESC. This would also reduce the fears of some residents regarding odours and potential infestations. Food waste Nappies Collection of disposal nappies and other sanitary items was considered to be problematic and the Committee looked at the possibility of weekly collection of residual wastes where there were babies living in a dwelling. The ESC however has no decision making powers and can only therefore make recommendations to the Executive of the Council. WRAP According to Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP), each year in the UK we throw away about one third of all the food we buy and at least half of this food is still fit for human consumption. In landfill the waste produces methane which is around 21 times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas and hence significant to climate change. Research has shown that a typical household throws away between £250 and £400 a year of food which could have been eaten. WRAP estimates that 16% of waste sent to landfill is food waste. LATS Under the Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2004 each authority in Wales has been set a level of waste which is permitted to be landfilled. To avoid fines of £200 per tonne, Cardiff must reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill to meet the 2009/10 target of 71,000 tonnes, as in 2006/07 the council landfilled 153,000 tonnes. IVC Earlier this year the Cardiff Executive said that invitations for tender could be issued for the design & build or design, build & operation of an In-Vessel Composting (IVC) Facility at Lamby Way. This is the likely facility to be used for the treatment of the collected food waste. Education The Committee found based on Swansea's experience that, for success there is a need to educate and support members of the public and they need to be fully aware of the reasoning behind the changes. Face to face interaction was found to be the best approach. Another important factor is the attitude of the workforce as they are the primary public interface. Collection crews also need to be fully aware of the reasoning behind the introduction of food waste collections, according to the EDC. Councillor Simon Wakefield, Chair of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee said: “This scheme should significantly reduce the amount of non-recyclable or non-composted waste. The key will be educating people."