New food waste collection set to be introduced in the Havant borough to drastically increase recycling
A new food waste collection is set to be introduced across the Havant borough in a bid to drastically increase the amount of waste which is recycled.
During a recent Cabinet meeting, it was agreed that the collection of food waste will be carried out on behalf of Havant Borough Council through a partnership with Portsmouth City Council. A pilot scheme will initially run in a specific area within the borough before being rolled out to other areas which includes Waterlooville, Emsworth and Hayling island.
Food waste will be collected weekly by a different crew, on the same days as current rubbish and recycling collections. The food waste will then be sent for anaerobic digestion, with the pilot set to begin in the spring of next year.
The council said this will help residents recycle more, reduce what goes to energy recovery, and turn leftovers into something genuinely useful. The Borough of Havant’s current recycling rate is 30 per cent.
The decision to introduce the new collections reflects the implementation set out in the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms introduced under the Environment Act 2021, which aims to reduce food waste, improve recycling rates and help address climate change.
Councillor Netty Shepherd, deputy leader of Havant Borough Council and cabinet lead for commercial , said: “I am delighted to announce that we will be working with our neighbouring authority, Portsmouth City Council, who will collect food waste on our behalf.
“We will be working closely with Portsmouth City Council to identify which area we will pilot the new collection service in and announce this exciting news in the new year.
“I would like to reassure our residents that the cost of setting up the food waste collection service is being fully funded by Central Government and not from their council tax. The funding will be used to purchase kitchen caddies, outdoor food bins and specialist collection vehicles.
“We have a legal requirement to reach a 65 per cent recycling rate by 2035; that’s more than twice the amount the borough is currently achieving.”
Cllr Dave Ashmore, cabinet member for environmental services at Portsmouth City Council, said: "I'm really pleased that we will be delivering this important service to Havant borough residents, and look forward to working with Havant Borough Council to reduce food waste and increase recycling rates.
"We'll be offering this service in addition to our current well-established food waste recycling programme in Portsmouth, which will not be affected by the change."
The types of food waste that will be collected separately include:
- Fruit and vegetable peelings, cores, and skins
- Plate scrapings and food scraps, including eggshells
- Bread, rice, and pasta that can no longer be eaten
- Teabags and coffee grounds
- Cooked or raw meat and fish that can no longer be eaten, including bones