As part of Food Waste Action Week (9-15 March) Havant Borough Council is set to launch its new weekly food waste collection service in selected areas of the borough.

The pilot scheme will be introduced from the end of April with ten thousand households taking part.   

Residents in the selected areas will be notified by letter before receiving their indoor and outdoor caddies to place their food waste in.

The weekly collections of food waste have come as part of the national legislation from Central Government, along with the Havant Borough Council’s drive to help residents recycle more and waste less.

Separating food waste from other rubbish means household waste bins are cleaner, do not smell as much and results in less being sent to the local incinerator.

Councillor Netty Shepherd, Deputy Leader and Cabinet lead for Commercial, said “This is a really positive step to helping households recycle more and waste less. By introducing this pilot, the council is helping residents recycle more and reduce the amount of rubbish they put in their household waste bin.

“Food waste makes up about 25 per cent of the average household waste bin and could be recycled.” 

In March, the council will write to households in the pilot area to inform them about the new food waste recycling service. Following that, they will then receive: 

• A small caddy for indoor use
• A larger caddy for outdoor use (emptied every week)
• An instruction leaflet to explain how to use the new service. 

Working in partnership with neighbouring authority Portsmouth City Council, who will be collecting the food waste, weekly collections will begin from Monday 20 April. Food waste will then be taken to a special processing plant, where it will be used to generate energy and valuable soil enhancers, including nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertiliser.  

The results of the pilot will be monitored, with a longer-term view of rolling out a food waste recycling service borough-wide by the end of the year.  

To find out more, view our short video or visit www.havant.gov.uk/food-waste 

Havant Borough Council 9th March