Food waste – from plate to field and back

3 February 2014

Written by: Campaigns team

News and announcements

It has only been a few months since the new food waste service was introduced across the borough, following a very successful trial in the Gipsy Hill area, and already most people have embraced the service.

We knew people in the borough were keen to recycle food waste but the response has been even better than we’d hoped. Thank you!

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Food waste – from plate to field and back

The story so far

In one week alone, 87 tonnes of food waste has been saved from your general rubbish bins!  And this is not the whole picture – we know lots of you compost at home.

Collecting food waste is just the beginning. Food waste collected from across the borough is sent to a facility where it is turned into compost to improve farmland around London.

The compost is delivered to farmers in counties near the capital to use to make their soil more fertile and help grow better food for us to enjoy.

If we all do our bit we can not only improve the environment and help farmers grow food, but cut the £1.75 million it costs us each year to dispose of food waste.

Find out more

You can find out more about recycling in Lambeth and find out handy hints and tips on our environment blog and twitter account @EnviroLambeth

What do you think?

There are lots of ways of dealing with food waste, is the new food waste service a good thing? What do you do with your leftovers? Let us know your thoughts – leave a comment below.

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4 Thoughts on “Food waste – from plate to field and back

  1. Laura Tapper says:

    I am not really sure how lining the caddy with newspaper or not using anything is going to work in the hot weather in the summer when the external bins will start to smell considerably. I agree that you should be able to pick up the bags at local council facilities like leisure / centres libraries.

    • Campaigns Team says:

      Thank you for your feedback Laura.

      There are no plans at the moment to sell compostable liners in the libraries or leisure centres but they are available in all big supermarkets as well as online. These compostable liners can be tied shut to prevent smells and make empting the inside bin cleaner/easier. Alternatively, newspaper or kitchen roll can be used if you wish.

      We do not provide bin liners for free, as this would cost approximately £300,000 per year. We feel that most residents would prefer that this money be spent on other important frontline services.

  2. Campaigns team says:

    Thanks for your feedback Ovie.
    We have partnered with caddyliners.com to make liners easily available at low-cost, but they can also be picked up in all the big supermarkets.
    In addition, you could also choose to line your caddy with newspaper or kitchen roll.

  3. Ovie says:

    I consider that Lambeth council should of made it easier to replenish the small food caddy bin liners. Bromley Borough made caddy liners available through the Library service for £2 a role. Why is Lambeth not doing the same?

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