Residents in Telford and Wrekin have embraced a new food waste service, with more than 55 tonnes collected in just three days.

Once collected, food waste is taken to an anaerobic digester where it is digested and turned into energy to power homes and businesses. The waste product from the process is also then used as a fertiliser for farmland.

The scheme’s popularity shows that a high percentage of residents are taking part in the scheme, with the amount of waste collected equating to producing enough energy to boil the kettle 220,000 times which would make 1.3 million cups of tea.

Steve Mitchell, Veolia’s West Midlands Director, said:

“It has been an incredibly busy week and our crews have been working extremely hard to ensure the new food service collection has started well.  We have had the added challenge of the new rounds starting this week, which crews and residents are also getting used to.

“Hearing how much food waste has been collected in the first few days is fantastic and makes it all worthwhile.  I urge everyone who hasn’t used their caddy yet to join us.  The more food waste we can recycle the better for the environment.”

Teething issues

Whilst the take up of food recycling has been great, a few issues have arisen which Veolia has been working with Telford & Wrekin Council to address.

Residents have reported missed collections, which crews are doing their best to remedy as quickly as possible.  The council says that many of these reports are from residents who have had their other containers emptied but not their food caddy. 

The council is reminding residents that food waste is collected by a separate crew and wagon to the general recycling and waste collections, so will not be collected at the same time.

There are some households that have not yet received their caddies or have got their caddies but are missing their supply of caddy liners. Crews are working extra hours to get them delivered as soon as possible, and anyone missing caddies or caddy liners is asked to order them online.

Crews out collecting food waste have noticed that some residents have put their small kitchen caddy inside their large outdoor caddy for collection. Residents are reminded that it is only the contents of the small caddy, not the caddy itself, which goes in the larger caddy.

Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for recycling, said:

“Wow, the amount of food waste collected in less than a week is pretty impressive.  I imagine the quantities may drop a bit once people see how much food is going to waste – I know it has made me think about the amount of food wasted in my house.

“As for the issues this week, I would like to thank residents for bearing with us and also the crews who have been working so hard.  Inevitably there are going to be issues when you introduce major service changes to 70,000+ households, but hopefully we will see things settle down over the next few weeks.”