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Plan for food waste to be separated | Plan for food waste to be separated |
(about 3 hours later) | |
All households in England may be given a separate caddy for food waste, under plans to be announced next week. | |
Ministers are backing the idea, but will offer it for consultation before any changes happen. | Ministers are backing the idea, but will offer it for consultation before any changes happen. |
The scheme would reduce greenhouse gases from landfill, but could lead to less frequent collections of general household waste. | |
Some councils will oppose the policy unless they are given extra funds to carry out the scheme. | |
At the moment, only around 35% of households in England are obliged to put food waste in its own caddy. | At the moment, only around 35% of households in England are obliged to put food waste in its own caddy. |
That compares with 56% in Scotland and 100% in Wales. The figures exclude food waste mixed with garden waste. | That compares with 56% in Scotland and 100% in Wales. The figures exclude food waste mixed with garden waste. |
While the new rule would force councils to offer separate food caddies, people would not be obliged to use them. | |
Why do we need food caddies? | Why do we need food caddies? |
Unwanted food that goes into a general bin rots in landfill and creates methane - a powerful greenhouse gas. | Unwanted food that goes into a general bin rots in landfill and creates methane - a powerful greenhouse gas. |
When waste food is collected separately, it can be put into an anaerobic digester - a tank in which the food breaks down into sludge, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane, which can be used for generating energy or running a vehicle. | When waste food is collected separately, it can be put into an anaerobic digester - a tank in which the food breaks down into sludge, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane, which can be used for generating energy or running a vehicle. |
The residual sludge is used as a soil fertiliser. | The residual sludge is used as a soil fertiliser. |
The change will help the government reach its targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. | The change will help the government reach its targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. |
Some local councils say there’s a long-term bonus from having food waste separated and collecting it every week. | Some local councils say there’s a long-term bonus from having food waste separated and collecting it every week. |
Because when rotting food is safely in the caddy, general waste collections can be reduced to every two or more weeks without providing a feast for flies. | Because when rotting food is safely in the caddy, general waste collections can be reduced to every two or more weeks without providing a feast for flies. |
What are the drawbacks? | What are the drawbacks? |
The policy has been controversial for people wanting bins emptied every week. Some councils say the scheme is too expensive. | The policy has been controversial for people wanting bins emptied every week. Some councils say the scheme is too expensive. |
It creates a problem with disposing of nappies and the food waste caddies create extra clutter for front gardens or streets. | It creates a problem with disposing of nappies and the food waste caddies create extra clutter for front gardens or streets. |
But the plan does fit with the government strategy of changing our relationship with the stuff we throw away. | But the plan does fit with the government strategy of changing our relationship with the stuff we throw away. |
Recyclenow, the government-backed campaign, says: "Throwing away food is a huge waste of the energy, water and packaging used in its production, transportation and storage. | Recyclenow, the government-backed campaign, says: "Throwing away food is a huge waste of the energy, water and packaging used in its production, transportation and storage. |
“If we all stopped wasting the food which could have been eaten, it would have the same CO₂ impact as taking one in four cars off UK roads.” | “If we all stopped wasting the food which could have been eaten, it would have the same CO₂ impact as taking one in four cars off UK roads.” |
Follow Roger on Twitter. | Follow Roger on Twitter. |
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