FOOD WASTE will be collected from the borough’s doorsteps on Monday in the biggest shake-up since rubbish was separated into recyclable and normal waste.
Wokingham Borough Council has been delivering lockable 23-litre kerbside food waste containers and kitchen caddies to homes across the borough ready to start the collections next week.
And a brand new fleet of waste collection vehicles will be supporting this new service, which the council says will allow residual, mixed recycling and food waste to be collected in the same vehicle.
The food waste will be sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, which captures the methane created by the waste to produce energy and fertiliser.
Almost all forms of food waste can be collected – including cooking oil, which should be stored in a sealed plastic bottle inside the locked kerbside container.
The food waste bags will be removed prior to the anaerobic digestion process and sent to an energy recovery facilities where they will be incinerated to generate energy.
Sarah Hollamby, director of locality and customer services for the council, said: “Methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is produced by decomposing food waste.
“By introducing a food waste collection service we are able to capture this methane and turn it into energy – while also preventing it from entering the atmosphere.
“Residents should have received their containers and liners by April 1 to partake in the service. If you haven’t by this time, you can collect from a number outlets across the borough next week.”
For more information log on to www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘food waste collections’.
