Council serves up new food waste recycling service

Around 20,000 properties across the city will benefit from the trial scheme which will see food waste picked up once a week.

In the capital, households throw out on average between £450 and £550 food waste per year. 

The Council currently recycles 32 per cent of all waste collected, however if the recycling rate does not increase the cost of landfill and landfill tax will rise from £10.37m to £16.24m by 2014.

But if more residents reduce, reuse and recycle this figure could reduce to £11.85m.

The food waste pilot will cover different areas and a variety of housing types to test the service across the city.

Once the trial is evaluated, the service will be rolled out across the city.

With a target of increasing recycling in Edinburgh, the food waste pilot is part of the Council's new Waste and Recycling Strategy.

And the brand new food waste scheme is a further improvement to the recycling service following the introduction of plastic bottle and battery recycling.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental Leader, said: "This is a pioneering service for local residents in Edinburgh. I'm glad to see the pilot begin. Food waste will be collected weekly and there will be more opportunity to recycle other household items.

"There is real potential for behavioural change. It's important for residents to know, that if recycling is increased there will be a much better service, as well as helping the environment, reducing waste and saving money. Lowering the amount of rubbish we send to landfill is everyone's responsibility. We want Edinburgh to be a great place to live in and visit and these pilots are part of that."

Duncan Thorp, a local resident from East London Street, who is taking part in the food waste recycling scheme, said: "I am really pleased to see the introduction of food waste recycling in Edinburgh. It's a great addition to the recycling services we already have. I look forward to local people playing a full part in not only recycling, but reducing their food waste and making a greener city for everyone."

Food waste collected will then be composted or used to generate gas, which helps the environment by reducing the need for fossil fuel.

The Scottish Government published its Zero Waste Plan for Scotland in June 2010. Key targets included in this include:

Separate food waste collections to be introduced by 2013 

A ban on recyclable waste from landfill by 2015

A ban on biodegradable waste from landfill from 2017.

Keep Scotland Beautiful recently published a survey on public attitudes towards waste.