Council gears up for food waste scheme
Refuse teams in Bath are preparing to launch food waste collections in the city.
The weekly collections will begin next month and see around 72,000 households benefitting from the service.
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In the next few weeks properties across Bath and north east Somerset will be given two new containers for the initiative, which aims to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
From September 20 the new containers, which will come with 52 small biodegradable sacks, will be delivered to residents ahead of the October 4 start date.
After collection the waste will be sent to a site in Gloucestershire, where it will be made into compost for use on agricultural land.
Councillor Charles Gerrish (Conservative, Keynsham North), B&NES Council cabinet member for service delivery, said it was estimated a third of the waste in an average household bin was food.
He said there was an urgent need to tackle climate change as well as save money on landfill tax, which currently costs the council £48 per tonne of rubbish sent to the dump, and is rising by £8 per tonne each year.
He said: “Not only is there is an urgent need to tackle the causes and effects of climate change, but landfill tax charges are higher than last year.
“It is really important that households play their part alongside the council and participate in food waste collections.”
The scheme has cost the authority £400,000 to implement, with more funding coming from the Government’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
A video is also being broadcast with hints and tips about how to recycle food waste with the help of Fairfield Park resident Lin Patterson.
She said: “I’m really keen to start food waste recycling and pleased to take part in the video and help encourage others.
“By recycling our food waste, less methane will be released into the environment meaning our planet will not be damaged as much for future generations.”
The video can be found by visiting the council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/BathnesCouncil.
For more information about food waste go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/foodwaste or contact Council Connect on councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 39 40 41 or Text SMS 07797 806545.
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by Will, Oldfield Park
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:06PM
“Methane produced via rotting landfill is already used by BANES contractors to generate electricity. What's the problem with landfill, Gaia-lovers?
If the EU Landfill Directive wasn't distorting the market, I suspect it would become clear that measures like this are actually WORSE for Gaia, due to the extra energy used (all those recycling lorries burning diesel, etc). The research done by quangos like WRAP is hardly likely to be objective on this.
Has the Chronicle's resident BANES commissar actually answered the question:- "will residents be fined if they dispose of food waste in regular household waste"?
Here's hoping Eric Pickles ditches the commissars and takes the commonsense decision to pull out of the EU Landfill Directive.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 3:25PM
“Well I doubt anyone will accept your quote of only around £40 per install and you've included nothing for maintenance or replacement. Nor will B&NES be paying £400,000 pa - that's the implementation cost, i.e. £9,600,000 less than your estimated implementation cost. As has been said, the lorries are already equipped to deal with food waste so there are no modification costs. Nor will there be any extra increase in either lorries on the road nor manpower since the food will be collected as part of the existing recycling, Finally, have you considered asking Wessex Water for their view?
"While our sewerage system can cope with human waste, rainwater and waste water from industry, it is not designed to be a waste disposal unit.
"The increasing amount of fats, oils and grease being disposed of down sinks and drains causes problems with smells and vermin.
"And the build up of fats in our sewers means the sewerage system is less effective, leading to sewer flooding and environmental pollution."
(And, no, of course Malcolm Hannay isn't the council spokesman.).................
Completely agree with you rogerh.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:23PM
“Here's a cunning plan.
Don't eat!”
by Janus, Bath
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:27PM
“So - now we need a video to tell us how to dispose of our waste - does this not illustrate just how silly the whole system has become?
Having seen the size of the caddy, I think perhaps the Council has a 'cunning plan' - in today's 'micro kitchens' there will be no room left on the worktop in which to do any food preparation anyway, so hey chaps we've eliminated food waste altogether!”
by Gary P, Bath
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:10PM
“If not he, then who roger?
Unlike councillor Hanney do these spokespeople not have names, and are they not accountable for what they say?
You also appear to be averse to recognising that "some of the nonsense posted here" are only responses to nonsense posted by council mouthpieces about saving the world and creating an illusion of a value for money service in the process.”