We are rapidly running out of landfill space in Gloucestershire and need to recycle and compost more of the waste that we produce. Nearly a quarter of household waste in Gloucester by weight is cooked and uncooked food waste which generates the harmful greenhouse gas, methane, if disposed of at landfill. Food waste from Gloucester is taken to a facility called an In Vessel Composter where it is turned into high quality compost.
It is taken to a nearby In Vessel Composter that is fully licensed to accept all types of food waste and is compliant with the Animal By-Product Regulations. These regulations are enforced by the Animal Health Division of the Government who ensure there are proper safeguards taken during the process. The composting process will take place over a minimum of 25 days in order to deal effectively with any pathogens (agents which cause disease) before the material is matured. The whole facility is designed and constructed in order to be safe and comply with strict regulations. This has been tried and tested successfully in many parts of the country.
By taking part in the scheme you are directly helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by food waste at landfill sites. Legislation requires councils to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill or incur financial penalties. You are therefore helping to keep Council Tax bills down by diverting food waste from landfill. Food waste makes up nearly a quarter of all household waste by weight and can be turned into useful compost. The service has been designed to be easy to use. All you need to do is put your food waste in the caddy supplied instead of your usual rubbish bin and put it out weekly on your normal collection day. Once you become used to putting your waste in the appropriate container it will soon become second nature. We are all responsible for generating waste and must learn to deal with it in a responsible way.
As long as you follow our advice about what can and cannot be placed in each receptacle, they should be emptied. Any missed collection should be reported to the City Council on 01452 396396. Please remember collections may be made any time up to 5pm on collection day.
This is not permissible in the food waste caddy. You should double bag it and place it in your normal black rubbish bin.
The kitchen caddy is only 7 litres (10" high x 10" wide x 8" deep (250 x 250 x 200mm)) and is designed to be kept on a kitchen work surface or under the sink. However, if you do not wish to use the small kitchen caddy, then you can empty your food directly into the larger 23 litre food (14" high x 12" wide x 11" deep(360 x 300 x 270mm)) waste caddy outside.
We would encourage all residents to participate fully in the proposed service in order to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to Gloucestershire’s landfill sites. Local authorities face financial penalties if they do not meet targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, where it generates the potent greenhouse gas, methane.
We would encourage you to continue composting at home (compost bins can be ordered via www.recycleforgloucestershire.com|). However, we can collect all meat, fish, bones, cooked food and dairy products using the food waste caddy, which are materials you should not put in with your compost at home as they could attract vermin.
That would be entirely up to you. If you do not have space in your kitchen to store your larger 23 litre food waste caddy (14" high x 12" wide x 11" deep (360 x 300 x 270 mm)), you could safely keep it outside. By using the handle as a locking mechanism, you can seal the lid of your caddy to prevent foxes etc getting inside.
Please do not put plastic, compostable or biodegradable liners into the food waste caddy - the binmen will not empty it, as they cannot tell whether the bags are made of a material which could contaminate the load and prevent it from being turned into compost.
If you would like to keep your food waste caddy relatively clean, then you can line it with newspaper or kitchen towel, which is compostable. Alternatively, you can buy special paper bags on the internet to fit the small food caddy, or you can regularly rinse the caddy after emptying as they are dishwasher proof. All paper liners or paper bags will be composted along with your food waste.
To ensure the newspaper is taken along with the food waste, make sure it is wrapped completely around the food waste. The binmen will not remove newspaper which is stuck to the inside of a food waste caddy after it has been emptied.
No, please do not put any type of packaging such as plastic, foil, cling film or cardboard in the caddy. This type of material would contaminate the composting process.
Yes. The City Council can provide assisted collections based on a proven need from the properties of householders who cannot manage their waste through ill health, permanent disability or infirmity. A simple questionnaire and/or a site visit will be required.
We cannot enter your property – therefore your containers must be easily accessible and outside. Anyone who has already been approved for assisted collections does not need to reapply.
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Last Modified: Tuesday 31 August 2010