Get composting and prevent food waste going to landfill
Warwickshire residents are being encouraged to get composting after shocking figures revealed that in certain parts of the county almost half of all rubbish going into the bin is food waste.
A ‘Waste Composition Analysis’, carried out by Warwickshire County Council, took samples of rubbish from the kerbside and household waste recycling centres and found that in Warwick almost 40 per cent of waste going into the bin was food.
This could result in 12,000 tonnes of food being thrown away each year in Warwick District alone, a large proportion of which could be composted. If 50,000 households compost, it could divert about 7,500 tonnes of waste from landfill and avoid collection and disposal costs of £600,000.
Even in Nuneaton and Rugby, where less food goes to waste, it still makes up more than a quarter of the rubbish in the bin at 28 per cent. Stratford residents throw away 34 per cent food waste and North Warwickshire almost 29 per cent.
The Warwickshire Waste Partnership is calling on people not to just throw out of date food and leftovers into the bin, but to think about composting.
Generally more than 30 per cent of household waste can be composted and the benefits to the householder and the environment are enormous.
As well as diverting waste away from landfill, compost produces a free source of nutrient and soil conditioner for gardens with very little effort.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Chair of the Waste Partnership and Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Buying too much food and then wasting it, either by having portions that are too big, or by having food that goes out of date, not only hits you in the pocket because of wastage, but costs you a second time in landfill tax – composting these leftovers makes sense.”
“And it’s not just veg peelings and grass cuttings that can go in to your compost bin – it is important to add drier organic materials such as shredded paper and card, sawdust, twigs and, of course, your old tissues, to get a really good quality compost.”
Warwickshire County Council and Recycle Now are currently offering bargain compost bins at reduced prices. 220 litre bins can be purchased for just £8 or the larger 330 litre bins for just £10. Order online by visiting http://www.recyclenow.com\compost or call 0845 077 0757 quoting reference HCA1.