Trial results analysed by Horsham District Council Recycling and Waste team
Results from a recent food waste collection trial amongst selected residents have been received and analysed by Horsham District Council’s Recycling and Waste team. Around 100 households in the Horsham District took part in a new recycling and waste collection trial to include separate collections of food waste and Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP).
Residents who were selected to participate in the trial and receive kerbside collections were given free bins, including a lockable food waste recycling bin and a kitchen caddy. Residents who live in flats were supplied with a free kitchen caddy and their bin stores were upgraded to collect food waste and AHPs.
Results from trial participants
- Trial participants recycled around 2,657kg of waste in just 12 weeks
- On average each trial household collected 3.05kg of waste per week
- On average general waste was cut from 6kg per household to 4kg per household per week
- Participants cut the overall amount they put into their green-top bins by one third
- The capacity of the Council’s 140 litre green-top waste bins proved sufficient to cope with a three weekly collection
Trial service ‘1-2-3’ collection system
- Weekly waste collections and an optional, free subscription service of AHP collections, if required
- Existing fortnightly recycling (blue bin) collections and garden waste (charged, subscription service)
- Three weekly general waste (green bin) collections, based on trial participants having less waste to dispose of as a result of food waste being collected separately
The ‘1-2-3’ trial was developed as a result of resident feedback informing the Council they would like separate food waste collections amidst concerns about the impact the waste has on the climate.
Food waste: separate collections and tips
The Government is also looking to make separate waste collections mandatory in the future. Collected waste was taken to an Anaerobic Digester which breaks it down into bio fertiliser for use on land, and a biogas, which can be used for generating energy.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste Cllr Toni Bradnum said: “The results from this trial will be crucial in helping us to fully understand how we can improve the way we deliver future recycling and waste collections and establish the most appropriate frequency of collections and size of bins to effectively meet residents’ needs.
“I’m really pleased that the trial participants were so positive about the trial, found their collections so easy and saved so much food waste from going to landfill as a result. No decision has been made on the future pattern of waste collections but this trial should pave the way to building upon our current great recycling record.”
To learn more about the trial or find out useful tips on reducing waste from food, visit Horsham District Council’s Food waste webpage: www.horsham.gov.uk/food-waste
