Food scheme takes a bite out of landfill
Food waste scheme rolled out to 11,000+ homes in Cherwell.
Half of the food waste in village bins across north Oxfordshire is already being diverted from landfill.
Early indications show Cherwell District Council’s food waste scheme has been welcomed by almost 11,000 homes already using it. Since the first collection on 20 October, the amount of mixed waste in the green bins has reduced by 20 per cent.
Councillor George Reynolds, Cherwell’s portfolio holder for environment, recreation and health, said: “It’s no surprise that residents have welcomed the scheme in the way they have. When those who live in Banbury and Bicester join the scheme in the new year, we know they will be just as enthusiastic. Cherwell has one of the best recycling records in the south-east and we’d like to thank everyone for their efforts so far.”
Kidlington will join the scheme later this month with Banbury, Bicester and villages in the south of Cherwell being added in the first few months of 2010 and if food recycling efforts continue at the current rate, 620 tonnes of food waste will have been collected by Easter. With all homes in the district on the scheme, this would equate to 5,000 tonnes in a full year.
Residents in Hook Norton were some of the first able to comment on the initiative as council officers went door-to-door. They discovered that the majority are making use of their kitchen caddy - a small container provided for each home to collect their food waste in before transferring it to the brown bin for collection. These were delivered with a complimentary roll of compostable liners and some householders were keen to know where they could buy more.
While there is now a growing list of retailers selling the liners they are not compulsory, merely a tool for those who wish to use them. Alternatively, the caddy can be lined with newspaper or left unlined. Other people have been home composting for some time but were surprised to learn how many more items they could recycle in their brown bin - cooked food scraps, fish and meat to name a few.
Oxfordshire Waste Partnership have part funded the scheme. Spokesman Wayne Lewis said: "It's good to hear that the new food waste collections have been well received. Composting food waste is a much better option than landfill. By putting food waste into the brown bin instead of the refuse bin, Cherwell residents are helping to protect the environment and reduce costs."
Homes in villages across the north of the district have now had their first food waste collection. Visit the recycling and waste pages in the environment and planning section at www.cherwell.gov.uk/foodwaste for a wealth of information about the food waste scheme.
Stores currently selling the compostable caddy liners
Banbury
- Tesco - Lockheed Close
- Sainsbury’s - Oxford Road
- Morrisons - Swan Close Road
- Hillier Garden Centre - Compton Road
- Wilkinson - Bridge Street
- Robert Dyas - High Street
Bicester
- Wyevale Garden Centre - Bicester Avenue
- Lakeland - Avenue Retail Park
- Tesco - Pingle Drive and Sheep Street
- Somerfield - Market Square
Kidlington
- Sainsbury’s - Oxford Road
- Tesco - High Street
Chipping Norton
- Sainsbury’s - Market Place
Villages
- The Bridge Store - Williamscot Road, Cropredy
- Yarnton Nurseries - Sandy Lane, Yarnton
List of villages on the scheme
Adderbury, Alkerton, Balscote, Barford St Michael and Barford St John, Bloxham, Broughton, Claydon, Clifton, Cropredy Deddington, Drayton, Duns Tew, Epwell, Fritwell, Great Bourton, Hanwell, Hempton, Hook Norton, Hornton, Horley, Little Bourton, Lower Tadmarton, Middle Aston, Milcombe, Milton, Mollington, Nethercote, North Aston, North Newington, Shenington, Shutford, Sibford Ferris and Gower, Somerton, Souldern, South Newington, Steeple Aston, Swalcliffe, Swerford, Wardington, Wigginton, Williamscot and Wroxton.
