Green light for expansion of food waste recycling scheme in High Peak

Residents can put tea bags, coffee grounds and fruit and vegetable peelings into their compostable food bags, along with any unwanted scraps and leftovers.

Over 7,000 households in and around Glossop were given free compostable food bags in a bid to encourage them to separate all their cooked and raw food waste from their general waste and place it into their garden waste bin.

It has resulted in more than three tonnes of food waste per week being put to good use and turned into compost to be sold as a soil improver instead of being sent to landfill or a waste treatment facility.

The project has been so successful that Derbyshire County Council, in partnership with High Peak Borough Council, has decided to extend the trial to parts of the Buxton area and continue the scheme in Glossop until September 2019.

Each year in Derbyshire, residents throw more than 57,000 tonnes of food waste in their non-recycling bins costing Derbyshire council tax-payers more than £7.5m per year in disposal costs.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said: “We’re always looking for ways to make recycling and composting easier for residents and these compostable corn starch bags provide a convenient way to get rid of unwanted food scraps and leftovers.

“Separating food waste for composting is good news for the environment and will help reduce the £7.5m cost per year to Derbyshire council tax-payers in waste disposal fees.

“It’s great to see people in Glossop recycling more of their food waste and we’re pleased we were able to help.”

Residents can put tea bags, coffee grounds and fruit and vegetable peelings into their compostable food bags as they cook, and when they’ve eaten simply scrape any unwanted scraps and leftovers in there too.

Emily Thrane, Executive Councillor for Operational Services at High Peak Borough Council, said: “Recycling food waste saves everyone money so it’s good news that this scheme is going to continue in Glossop and be expanded to other areas of the High Peak.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to all those who have increased their food recycling so far. I look forward to seeing the benefits of this scheme extended across our borough.”