Research gives weekly collectors food for thought

02 April 2008

Households are most likely to recycle their food waste when councils provide a weekly collection alongside a fortnightly residual waste collection, research has found.

Two in three households (65%) use their food collection regularly, but 23% have never tried it, according to a study funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Overall, weekly food combined with fortnightly residual waste collection generates the highest kilogramme amount of food recovery per household.

The report, which will be published later this spring, also found that dedicated food-only systems capture more food waste than food waste mixed with garden waste. Environment minister, Joan Ruddock, said: ‘This research shows that much more can be done cost effectively to prevent food wastage and to recover value from what is thrown away.

‘The most important lesson to learn is that householders do want to play their part. The Government needs to provide support and guidance, and current research is helping inform the debate.’

DEFRA is also funding work by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to trial household food waste collection systems. WRAP is supporting 19 councils to conduct weekly food waste collection trials and develop good practice guidance in the design and operation of food waste collection schemes. Initial diversion estimates indicate that around 3kg of food waste per week is being collected from households taking part. Participation rates so far are in the range 50% to 80%.

Responding to the research, Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Association environment board, said: ‘The Government has just hit the council taxpayer with a £1.5bn bill over the next three years by going back on its undertaking to refund money raised through landfill tax. ‘This is cash needed for improving refuse and recycling facilities, and it is unrealistic for ministers to expect more collections of food waste when this money is being taken away.’

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