Less waste, more recycling: New fleet of trucks for food waste collections

 

 

A NEW fleet of vehicles that now collect food waste separately from garden waste is on the road in Hillingdon.

The trucks, which cost £485,000, were out on their rounds from today (10) as part of the council’s continuing efforts to improve recycling rates.

Previously, food and garden waste were collected at the same time, by the same vehicle.

Around 44 per cent of general waste in Hillingdon is made up of food waste. This contributes to climate change due to gases like methane and carbon dioxide being released.

Recycling food waste is free for residents - all they need is a five-litre kitchen caddy, compostable bags and an outdoor caddy.

These are supplied free when residents sign up for the service on the council’s website.

Thanks to the outdoor caddy’s click locking mechanism, it keeps rodents from tearing open bags.

Hillingdon’s food waste is transported in bulk to Surrey for recycling. it’s broken down to generate electricity and create fertiliser for farms. 

Residents are asked not to mix food with garden waste. The latter will still be collected as normal, but by a separate truck.

To sign up for the free food waste service, go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk/food-waste 

It isn’t available to flats yet.