New commercial food waste service launches across Adur and Worthing

Businesses across Adur and Worthing can now turn their leftovers into something great thanks to the Councils' new commercial food waste collection service.

As part of its ongoing sustainability drive, Adur & Worthing Councils have worked with dozens of local organisations to develop a resourceful way to recycle rubbish.

A new dedicated collection service keeps food separate from other waste. The leftovers are then treated sustainably and used to generate energy.

With up to 33% of waste collected from local businesses being food, the new service is already helping divert hundreds of kilos of kitchen leftovers and plate waste away from landfill.

This is good for the environment but also cheaper for the companies and the Councils in the long run.

Cllr Emma Evans, Adur District Council's Executive Member for Environment, said:

“For more than 30 years, we have been providing collections of general and recyclable waste to thousands of local businesses.

“Now, we're taking our professional and proactive approach to food waste - providing a dedicated weekly service so that businesses, schools and other organisations can play a part in protecting the environment.”

Cllr Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council's Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services, said:

“This is an exciting new service which really highlights the commitment to the environment that many of our local businesses want to take.

“We've worked really hard with new and existing customers to create a service which is not only easy-to-use but also one that does not cost the earth either. Feedback so far has been great and I look forward to it developing further in the coming months.”

A trial commercial food waste service began in the autumn and nearly 20 businesses and organisations have already signed up to weekly collections.

The Councils' dedicated commercial waste team works with customers to create a waste collection service that works for them.

Dedicated red-lidded bins are then provided for all food waste which are then emptied regularly by expert crews in a new specially branded vehicle.

Clients will receive a new 'Food Waste Recycler' window sticker and other branding materials which they can display to show their customers that they are committed to managing their waste effectively

Among those to have already signed up to the service are Finch Bar & Eatery in Warwick Street, Worthing.

In the first two months, nearly 190 kilos of food has been recycled into energy. This reduction in general waste means they will soon be able to reduce the number of bins it has, saving £450 a year in collection and disposal costs.

Megan Dooley, owner of Finch, said:

“We have decided to use the Councils' food waste service in an effort to be more environmentally-conscious, to send less waste to landfill and to reduce our carbon footprint.

“It's been really easy to set up. It's been tailored to our needs and is a very affordable service. I have really enjoyed using it and I think it's really beneficial for businesses.

“I would decide to use the Councils as a food waste provider because it is simple to use, they are really reliable, they have been easy to contact and get in touch with and are a trusted food waste provider.”

you can contact the team directly on:

• 01273 263050
• or email commercialwaste@adur-worthing.gov.uk