Families save waste from landfill

Communities have helped raise more than £700 for local charities by upping their recycling.

Householders in Kinrossshire and Glenfarg were challenged to work with Perth and Kinross Council to reduce their waste and increase their recycling by six and a half tonnes over two months.

The authority pledged to donate money saved on disposal costs – around £110 per tonne – back to the community. At the end of the challenge it has now awarded £715 to community foodbank Broke not Broken.

Councillor Angus Forbes, convener of the council’s environment and infrastructure committee, said: “The average Perth and Kinross household fills one third of their general waste bin with food waste and most of that food is still edible.

“This project has enabled the council’s waste services to provide a year of activities in Kinross-shire and Glenfarg to help householders plan their food shopping, store food so that it lasts longer and find new recipes to use up ingredients so that they can save money on their food bills and help the council to send less waste to landfill – a cost which increases annually.

“I’m delighted that this year-long campaign has helped householders to adopt new habits which they can continue long-term and hope that householders will continue to share their hints and tips for reducing food waste with their friends, family and neighbours.”