Trial Kerbside Recycling Service - Food Waste Recycling
As part of the kerbside recycling service trial we have implemented collections of food waste for 5,200 households in Arbroath, Carnoustie and selected rural areas.
Scottish households throw away 566,000 tonnes of food and drink every year. Food waste represents nearly a third of household waste in Scotland. Rotting waste in landfill generates methane - a potent gas which contributes to climate change - and the cost of sending waste to landfill is rising.
By collecting this food waste separately it can be re-processed using technologies that generate energy, making use of this waste as a resource, and avoiding the high economic and environmental costs of landfill.
So, from mid-September Angus Council began a trial with 5,200 households in Arbroath, Carnoustie and selected rural areas to test a new recycling service, including weekly food waste collections, which will enable those households to recycle more materials, as easily as possible. This will help us to meet our recycling targets, comply with new legislation and save money on disposal costs.
The views of residents in the trial area will be important to us in ensuring the new service meets the needs of everyone in Angus, so we will be undertaking a survey of people's opinions of the trial in a few months' time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the trial food waste recycling service?
Households within the trial kerbside recycling service area have been provided with new indoor and outdoor caddies for food waste, collected weekly. This is in addition to the new recycling and general waste services and existing garden waste collection.
Why is Angus Council providing a trial food waste recycling service?
The Scottish Government has set us a target to recycle more and landfill less waste. We will also be required by law to provide a separate food waste collection to households. Waste decomposing in landfill results in emissions of methane - a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Sending waste to landfill is also expensive and we could spend this money on other services.
More than 30% of the waste in an average Scottish bin is food. Diverting food waste from landfill means that it can be turned into valuable fertilisers and energy.
How should the food waste caddy be presented for collection?
Please put your outdoor food waste caddy at the kerbside ready for collection by 7am on your collection day.
Please ensure that the lid is fully closed and in the locked position to prevent accidental spillage.
What should go in the new food waste caddy?
Food waste caddies can be used for all food waste, cooked or uncooked - they can even take bones!
- Dairy
- Meat
- Bones
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Bread
- Rice & Pasta
- Fish
- Please remove all packaging before putting food waste into the caddies.
- Don't put liquids (hot or cold) into the caddies - gravy or soups should be strained first.
- Lock the outside caddy by leaving the handle at the front of the caddy.
How does the two food waste caddy system work?
If you are part of the trial you will have an indoor and an outdoor food waste caddy. We are trialling the use of ventilated indoor caddies, which means they have holes or strips that allow water to evaporate and greatly reduce the potential for unpleasant smells.
- Put a liner into your indoor caddy.
- Transfer any cooked or uncooked food waste to the caddy.
- When the liner is full, tie and remove from caddy and replace with a new liner.
- Place the full liner in your outdoor caddy.
- Place your outdoor caddy at the kerbside on your collection day and we will collect it.
It's that clean, easy and simple to do!
What happens to the food waste after collection?
Food waste collected as part of the trial is taken to Glenfarg, near Perth, where it is de-bagged (compostable liners are composted and plastic liners are landfilled), shredded, pasteurised and then digested. Bio fertilisers and energy are produced. The electricity generated is used on site or sold onto the National Grid.
Will liners be supplied for the indoor caddy?
We are trialling different ways of providing liners to line the indoor food caddy. All households in the trial will receive a starter pack of liners, but some households will have to source their own liners after this initial supply - each household will be told whether they will receive a continuous or initial supply of liners in the letter we send them. If you have any questions about how to get more liners you can contact the ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778.
Do compostable liners have to be used for food waste?
Any liner that fits the indoor caddy can be used, however we recommend that compostable liners (available online and from larger supermarkets) are used as these can be broken down and composted. Plastic liners will be removed from the composting process and landfilled.
Won't the food waste caddy smell or attract pests?
By containing any food waste in liners, securely tying liners and ensuring your caddy lid is kept closed (using the handle locking mechanism), you will prevent smells and avoid attracting pests. Practical experience from other councils has shown that by using the system properly any problems will be avoided.
What if I don't produce much food waste?
Every little helps, it doesn't matter if you do not produce a lot of food waste -if your household is part of the trial you can simply put your caddy out whenever it gets full. Please note if you do not want to participate in the new service your purple general waste bin will still be collected every two weeks.
What happens if the outdoor food waste caddy is contaminated?
If the outdoor food waste caddy is contaminated with anything other than food waste, an information tag will be attached and it will not be emptied. If you remove the contaminants the caddy will be emptied on your next scheduled collection day.
Where does food waste come from?
Food waste can come from the following sources:
- Buying too much
- Out of date food left in fridge or cupboards
- Leftovers from preparation
- Leftovers from meals
How can I reduce my food waste?
Over 2/3 of food waste could have been avoided if it had been more effectively planned, stored and managed. Food waste costs the average Scottish household £430 a year. By taking steps to avoid creating food waste in the first place, you could save a significant amount.
Lots of tips, tools and recipes to help reduce food waste in your home are available on the Love Food Hate Waste website.
Need more information about the trial recycling service?
Contact us using the Online Enquiries & Requests form or via ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778, or visit your local ACCESS office.
To learn about other ways to reduce, reuse and recycle your waste and save valuable resources, visit the Zero Waste Scotland website or our Waste and Recycling Services page.
Service Page: recyclingtrialbrown.htm
Service Details Last Reviewed : 20 August 2012
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