Food waste collections could start from as soon as September in Brighton and Hove if the council’s cabinet approves a proposal in a fortnight’s time.
A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet has recommended a phased introduction to food waste collections in the autumn.
Currently, the only options for food waste recycling in Brighton and Hove are either to compost at home or use a community scheme.
About 10 million tonnes of food is estimated to be wasted across Britain every year, with much sent to landfill.
But by the end of March next year, all councils will be expected to have weekly food waste recycling services – a requirement brought in by the Environment Act 2021.
When the council set its budget in February, Labour councillor Tim Rowkins, the cabinet member for net zero and environmental services, said that £1.2 million would be allocated to bringing in food waste collections.
The council is also working to expand its recycling capacity to include plastic pots, tubs and trays, food and drink cartons, including Tetra Paks, and aluminium foil.
Other councils across Sussex are also working towards introducing food waste recycling before the government’s deadline.
Most councils including neighbouring Lewes District Council as well as Adur and Worthing councils are looking to start weekly food waste collections from next March.
Once collected, the food waste will be sent for composting.
The cabinet is due to meet at 2pm at Hove Town Hall. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
Can’t even get the basic collections right so this is just the same stuff that Southern Water dump into the sea!
Totally agree. They need to get right what they do now before adding to the service.
The thing is they can’t not do it now. National legislation means that if they don’t start it by March next year the council won’t be meeting the new legal requirements.
Politicians in the city have been slightly mischievous with how they present the introduction of collections and expanded recycling collections, making out it’s down their their political will and suggesting it’s something the other parties didn’t have. The reality is that the new laws nationally are behind it and the council have been given millions of funding from the government to make the changes they need to make it happen – enough money to make changes at the depot, to buy new vehicles, the caddies that people will get to put food waste in. Think we all know though that this council’s ability to collect things is dismal – so there is zero confidence how this will pan out in reality
I have to say I doubt the efficacy of this new system when our mixed recycling has only been collected once since Christmas and our glass not at all. I hope for the best but experience a complete lack of regular service
Is it to much effort to walk your glass to one of many glass bins situated in both Lewes Rd & Upper Lewes Rd.
All our rubbish and recycling has been collected according to plan for years. No issues. Cityclean are doing it correctly. The only thing I want to happen is for more things to be recycled e. g. Aluminium foil, soft plastic, batteries and tetrapaks.
Take the batteries to your local supermarket – the other items are due to be collected by the council later this month.