Food waste recycling trial in Mid Sussex

Mid Sussex could become the first district in the county to introduce weekly food waste collections to its rubbish and recycling service.
By Carly-May Kavanagh
Published 4th Feb 2020, 11:10 BST
Updated 4th Feb 2020, 11:11 BST
Small grey food waste bin being used by a council in another part of the countrySmall grey food waste bin being used by a council in another part of the country
Small grey food waste bin being used by a council in another part of the country

The average household bin in Mid Sussex contains 41 per cent food waste, according to Mid Sussex District Council.

The council has said that a kerbside food waste collection service would enable residence to recycle more waste and help protect the environment.

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A spokesman for the council said: “Our scrutiny committee has recommended to cabinet that we undertake a trial of food waste collections to see how they would work in our area.

“If approved, the trial will involve approximately three thousand households and we will contact those selected to take part with much more information over the next few months.”

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “In Mid Sussex, around 40 per cent of everything that we put in our rubbish bins is food waste.

“That has a huge environmental impact and nationally it’s estimated that if every bit of food waste was instead recycled, that would have the same environmental benefit as taking one in four cars off the UK’s roads.

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According to Mid Sussex District Council, the UK throws away 4.5 million tonnes of food every year - enough food to fill 3,600 Olympic sized swimming pools.

They say the waste can be converted into electricity and power, which would help the environment and save money the average family of four around save £700 a year.