The food waste collection service is expanding to all communal properties in the final phase of the rollout. Portsmouth City Council plans for all properties to have the service by summer 2023.
The expansion started in early February and is expected to run until summer.
People living in communal properties will be provided with a food waste caddy to use at home. When the caddy is full, residents can take the food waste to the communal food waste bin(s).
What to put in your food waste caddies:
- All uneaten food and plate scrapings
- Tea bags – biodegradable and non-biodegradable
- Coffee grounds
- Out of date or mouldy food
- Shredded paper – please remove windows in envelopes
- Cut flowers
- Pet food waste
Since the collections began in September 2019, nearly 6,600 tonnes of waste – the equivalent of about 57 blue whales – have been diverted to food waste recycling.
Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment at Portsmouth City Council, said: “About 40% of the rubbish collected in Portsmouth is food waste, so providing a separate food waste collection service will reduce the amount of rubbish being sent for incineration and will help Portsmouth become a greener city.
“We also want to help households reduce waste created as food waste fuels climate change. With careful meal and portion planning, we can create less waste and save money at the same time. There are lots of tips available on the Love Food Hate Waste website.”
The collected food waste is sent for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. Biogas (mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) can be used as a fuel source and fertiliser.
Find out more about the council’s food waste collection service here: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/food-waste-collection-service/
