Major change for Wolverhampton households as new waste collection starts today

Wolverhampton’s food waste collection service starts today (Monday 26 October).

The weekly collections are being introduced under the government’s Simpler Recycling legislation, which requires councils all across the country to deliver the service.

The collections aim to help people recycle their scraps and plate scrapings, mouldy food, fruit and vegetable peelings, meat and fish bones, eggshells, teabags, coffee grounds and uneaten pet food.

Recycling food waste has a number of benefits including helping to turn leftovers into useful products such as green energy and natural fertiliser. It also helps cut carbon footprints and improves soil health.

Weekly collections can help reduce household bin smells, as regular collections help to keep things fresher. They can also help to create more space in domestic waste bins.

And recycling food waste can help household finances. Millions of tonnes of food waste are thrown away each year, costing the average family around £1,000 annually according to figures from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Once food waste is collected, it will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility. This process generates sustainable energy, fertiliser and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The food waste pick-ups will take place on peoples’ usual collection day and are available to all kerbside properties initially. There will be a further roll out to flats and other communal properties during the coming months.

What can you put in the food waste caddy?

A wide range of everyday food waste can go into the new caddy.

This includes:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Leftover food
• Plate scrapings
• Uneaten food
• Mouldy food
• Eggshells
• Tea bags
• Coffee grounds
• Meat bones
• Fish bones
• Leftover pet food

So, if you have leftovers sitting in the fridge that are no longer suitable to eat, they can go into the food waste collection.

The same applies to food preparation waste such as potato peelings, vegetable trimmings and fruit skins.

Coffee grounds and tea bags can also go into the caddy, as can eggshells and bones left over from meals.

Remember:

• Food waste will be collected weekly.
• The rollout begins from Monday, October 26.
• Your individual collection day may depend on your normal collection arrangements.
• Use the small caddy inside your home.
• Transfer food waste to the larger outdoor caddy for collection.
• Check the information provided with your caddy for your first collection date.
• Flats and communal properties will be brought into the scheme at a later stage.

For Wolverhampton households, the arrival of the new caddies marks the start of a new weekly routine – one designed to keep food waste out of general rubbish and make it easier to recycle more of what is thrown away at home.