YOU will soon be able to do some good with your food waste thanks to Down District Council’s new ‘food waste’ recycling service.
This is the next stage in the Council’s efforts to boost recycling rates even further and it is being introduced to all households currently receiving the garden waste collection (brown bin) service.
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Down District Council is making changes to what can be included in its brown bins.[/caption]
Speaking about the new initiative, Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Maria McCarthy said: “We need to continue to increase our recycling rates and we can only do that with your help.
“Food waste represents nearly a fifth of all household waste, so introducing a recycling service for food will make a big difference. It’s estimated that every household throws away on average £720 of food waste each year.
“The new scheme is simple and easy to use. We will be providing householders who currently have brown bins with a new recycling ‘caddy’ in the next few weeks.
“This little caddy/bin can sit on your kitchen worktop or under the sink so you can simply collect all your food leftovers and scraps then empty the contents into your outdoor brown bin which will be collected as usual every fortnight.
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“Look out for your new refuse and recycling calendar and kitchen caddy which will be delivered to Down District households in the next few weeks.” informs Down District Council Chairman, Cllr Maria McCarthy.[/caption]
“The new ‘kitchen caddies’ will be delivered directly to your home early December. Once delivered, you can start using them right away. If you wish, you can line your kitchen ‘caddy’ with newspaper and then begin putting your food waste into it. Regularly empty your ‘caddy’ into your kerbside brown bin. Do not put your food waste into any type of bag, it simply goes into the bin loose.”
Environment Committee Chairman Councillor William Dick added: “Information on how to recycle food waste will be included in your new collection calendar which will also arrive early December. All food waste, cooked and uncooked, can be put into the caddies, even bones.
“The only food items you cannot recycle are liquids and oils. So whether it is out of date food from your fridge or cupboards, leftovers from your food preparation or just what you haven’t eaten on your plate, it can all be recycled in your caddy and it’s so easy to do.
“By taking part in this exciting new scheme, you can help Down District Council keep waste out of landfill which helps to reduce the costs of waste services, and you will have more room in your black bin for other wastes.”
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