Council and democracy

Food waste collection figures prove a tasty dish

A trial scheme, launched in May 2007, saw 2,562 households in Coulsdon West and Purley issued with special kitchen "caddies" for the collection of food scraps, peelings and leftovers. They also received a larger bin to be stored outside for collection.

When collected, the food waste is taken to the shared composting facility in nearby Beddington Lane, Sutton, where it is processed and turned into compost.

Results for the period from the beginning of the trial to the end of March 2008 show:

• the number of households receiving the service: 2,562
• tonnage collected in 2007-2008: 206.84 tonnes (equivalent to 226 tonnes p.a.)
• average participation rate: 67.59%
• kilograms collected per household/per week for those taking part: 2.51kg.

As the trial began, figures from similar schemes across the UK suggested an average participation rate of 40%. Croydon's figure is more than half again as much.

National figures also revealed an average collection of 2kg per household/per week. Croydon's total exceeds that by more than 25%.

And Croydon's initial target of collecting 100 tonnes of food waste has been smashed with an actual collection, in less than a year, of more than twice that volume. This is equivalent to a 126% increase when extended to a full 12 months.

Councillor Phil Thomas, cabinet member for environment and highways, said: "This is clearly excellent news, and a fantastic response from residents to a very popular service.

"Such a service clearly has the potential for significant impact on the borough's recycling rates, landfill targets and budgets - all of which could contribute to helping to keep down the levels of council tax our residents have to pay.

"The figures are still being analysed, but they're sufficiently heartening to allow us to be giving very real consideration to rolling out food waste collections across the borough."