Further 24,000 homes to take part in food waste trial in Portsmouth

The city council is looking to add two more rounds to its food waste service, to double the number of homes covered.

If approved the extended scheme will run from September for a year and means affected properties will leave out food waste in a separate bin for collection.

As part of the trial - that has been running since 2019 - the waste is recycled and turned into fuel and fertiliser, rather than incinerated.

Councillor Dave Ashmore, the council's environment boss, explained it was part of a wider drive to boost recycling in the city.

'We've seen fantastic results since its launch 18 months ago and it's a testament to the residents' participation in the scheme,' he said.

'There clearly is an appetite in Portsmouth to increase our recycling efforts.

'Recycling is a big issue locally and nationally. Food waste is where we can make a really big difference, as it's food waste that makes up a huge amount of people's weekly rubbish collection.'

Households taking part will receive two food waste caddies - including a small caddy to keep in the kitchen, which is then emptied into a larger, animal-proof one outside for weekly collection.

In the first full year of the trial, 812 tonnes of waste have been diverted to food waste recycling - with up to 61 per cent of homes in the trial areas taking part.

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth homes trow away 27 tonnes of food waste in first two weeks of trial

Deputy council leader, Cllr Steve Pitt, added: 'We are keen to improve opportunities for residents to recycle more.

'A city-wide separate food waste collection could improve not only the recycling in the city by as much as 8 per cent, but also reduce carbon emissions by around 36 tonnes per year.

'There are so many benefits to recycling food waste and we are excited to give residents the opportunity to help make our city cleaner and greener.'

Running the extra rounds will cost £300,000 and a further £340,000 will be needed for new vehicles, bins and receptacles.

Approval on funds to expand the scheme needs to be given at a cabinet meeting next week, and a full council meeting the following week.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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