Waste food to provide energy in £295m plan

COUNCILS are to receive up to £295m to support them to introduce weekly food waste collections, the Government has announced.

The funding will pay for food waste caddies and specialist collection vehicles.

Officials said more than 10 million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK, much of which is sent to landfill.

Separate collections could prevent contamination of rubbish that can be recycled, while the leftover food could be used to generate sustainable energy, as well as cut down on greenhouse gas emissions that rotting food generates.

Introducing weekly food waste collections across the country is part of the Government’s plan to standardise rubbish and recycling so everyone can recycle the same materials instead of different systems in different council areas.

Weekly collections of food waste are being rolled out for most households by March 2026.

Recycling minister Robbie Moore said: “Weekly food waste collections are a central plank in delivering a simpler, easier recycling system for all.

“It will help to stop food waste heading to landfill and support our goals of tackling waste and climate change.”

Claire Shrewsbury, from wastereduction body Wrap, said: “Weekly food waste collections would give recycling an important boost and help reduce the impact of food waste on climate change.

“Research shows that when food waste collections are introduced and people see how much food is going to waste, they want to do something about it.

“With food waste costing a household around £1,000 a year, weekly collections will not only help prevent waste but utilise it to generate green energy and compost.”