Crawley Borough Council is set to introduce weekly food waste collections this autumn, around six months after the government’s deadline for councils in England to roll out separate food waste services.
Crawley Borough Council is set to introduce weekly food waste collections this autumn, around six months after the government’s deadline for councils in England to roll out separate food waste services.
The new scheme forms part of the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms under the Environment Act 2021, which require local authorities to provide dedicated weekly food waste collections to households.
Ahead of the launch, residents will receive information packs explaining how the service will operate. In August, every household will be sent a leaflet outlining the collection arrangements. A few weeks before collections begin, households will receive a starter pack containing a lockable 23-litre outdoor food waste bin with an orange lid, a five-litre kitchen caddie and a free starter roll of compostable liners.
A council spokesperson said the delayed rollout was due to a national shortage of specialist food waste collection vehicles, an issue affecting a number of councils across the country.
According to the council, food waste accounts for more than 44 per cent of the average household rubbish bin in Crawley. Councillors hope the new service will help reduce waste and encourage residents to make better use of food.
Nick Hilton, cabinet member for environment, sustainability and climate change, said a typical UK family of four throws away nearly £1,000 worth of edible food each year. He said the new collection service could help households reduce waste and save money.
As part of the changes, food waste will be collected weekly, while general rubbish collections will move to a fortnightly schedule using existing bins. Other services, including fortnightly mixed recycling collections and garden waste collections, will remain unchanged.
Residents living in flats and properties with communal bins will continue using the current arrangements and are expected to join the food waste service at a later stage.
Collected food waste will be processed at an anaerobic digestion facility, where it will be converted into renewable energy and fertiliser for use on local farmland.
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