The Neighbourhood Committee received
a presentation from the Waste 2020 representative, from PCC
regarding the launch of the forthcoming food waste collection service being introduced to
Peterborough with the aim to reduce the current waste to landfill
issues.
Key points within the presentation
were as follows:
- Roadshows were held in Queensgate
and other locations in Peterborough in order to inform residents of
the Food Waste Collection system.
The consultation had highlighted that a minority of the public were
in favour of the proposed scheme;
- The scheme was aimed to contribute
to the essential part of the 60% plus recycling goal;
- Food waste contributed to 40% of the
weight of black bins;
- Landfill food alone was estimated to
cost approx £1.8m per year by 2014 (at
current recycling rates);
- Food waste would be collected and
turned into an alternative power source and soil conditioner;
- Diversion from landfill was intended
to save 6,500 tonnes CO2 per year;
- A source of renewable
electricity;
- The scheme was intended to highlight to householders how much food waste they were
producing. One of the Council’s
aims was to encourage householders to buy less food;
- Potential significant
indirect savings for all taxpayers;
- Residents to be provided with one
small five litre caddy for the kitchen and a larger twenty three
litre locking caddy;
- Residents to place larger caddy
outevery
week with black or brown and green
wheelie bins;
- PCC to provide residents with the
first roll of biodegradable liners; and
- Almost half of
Councils nationwide collect food waste.
Comments and responses to questions were as
follows:
- The renewable energy produced by
using the food waste digestion system would be sold to companies
through Peterborough City Council’s tendering process;
- All grey food waste bins would be
made from recycled plastic;
- The public are encouraged to mark
their grey waste bins with a house number in order to avoid
theft;
- There would be no charge to the
public for replacements if a waste bin had become lost or
stolen;
- Evidence had shown nationally that
there were no huge concerns over theft of the food waste bins;
- A roll of Biodegradable bags would
cost an estimated two to three pounds and should last each
household a month;
- There would be no penalty to
residents if they chose not to use the grey food waste bins;
however, it was up to residents to adopt the scheme;
- It was predicted that using the grey
food waste bins would reduce the smell currently caused by the use
of black bins;
- PCC had decided not to use the
garden waste bin system, which had been adopted by other Councils,
due to the limitations of raw waste that would be recycled and the
processes involved;
- Members commented that not everyone shared the view that anaerobic
digesters would blend in with the countryside;
- Residents may use newspaper as
opposed to the biodegradable liners; however, it was important to
note that the use of supermarket plastic bags would not be
suitable; and
- The original idea of creating a
space for a grey food waste bin within the current black wheelie
bin system had caused many challenges and health and safety
concerns for PCC, which was why it wasn’t adopted.
The Committee noted the presentation.