Weekly collections of food waste begin this week for thousands more households in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
In total over 48,000 homes including flats across Greater Cambridge are now having weekly collections of food waste, with over 400 tonnes collected so far.
The Government’s introduction of Simpler Recycling legislation makes weekly collection of household food waste mandatory for all local authorities. Deliveries of new silver pest-proof caddies began in January, with waste collection crews carrying out the drop-offs themselves.
Head of Climate, Environment & Waste at Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service, Bode Esan said: “We’re recruiting 70 new team members to carry out the new weekly food waste collections, so delivering the caddies before their rounds begin is a great way for new staff to get to know the area.”
The new service is being introduced in ‘waves’, to ensure new lorries and teams are in place. With the whole of the UK introducing changes at the same time this is a major operation. The first two waves have been completed, with waves three and four scheduled for later this year.
Bode Esan said “Before this service was introduced, 88% of household food waste in our area was being put into black bins to be landfilled. This meant methane was given off which is a very potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Just by using your caddy you prevent that pollution.”
The collected food waste is taken to Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants, where the biogas given off by the decomposing food is captured and used to generate power. When fully broken down the food becomes biofertilizer which can be spread on farmland.
Bode Esan said “Most households which now have the new service are using it, which is really encouraging. Recycling food waste in your caddy makes a big difference, because it can be put to good use generating clean electricity and fertiliser. No amount is too small – even one banana skin could charge two smartphones!”
All households in Greater Cambridge are due to have weekly food waste collections by the end of 2026. Find out more at www.greatercambridgewaste.org/foodwaste
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