Agenda item

Food Waste Trial

Minutes:

The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership received a report which sought the support of the Partners for the development of a Business Case for a Food Waste Trial which would be presented at the meeting of the Partnership in March 2018.  The report also sought the agreement of the Partners to launch a publicity campaign in support of the trial.

 

It was explained that the food waste trial would be undertaken in selective locations within South Kesteven District Council, covering urban, rural and semi-rural areas.  It was proposed that, should the trial prove successful, this would then be replicated as a countywide food waste service.

 

The trial was due to the start in April 2018, for one year.  Disposal points would initially be in the south of the county.  Alternatively, it could be brought to waste transfer stations and taken on from there to the appropriate site.

 

A development business case would be prepared for the March meeting of the Partnership for members' input.

 

The rollout would need to be linked to Communications teams, with Officers from both South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council working together on this.

 

It was highlighted that there would be regular updates to keep the public informed, with a steer on helping the public feel positive about the scheme.  Including schools in the trial would help educate children, who in turn would hopefully pass the message on to their parents.  The free school meals incentive for infants at primary schools would no doubt produce a lot of food waste.

 

There was discussion between members about the work still to be done in order to improve existing dry recycling schemes through education and the quality of recycling being collected. It was confirmed that as a proportion of recycling was contaminated by food waste, the success of the trial would improve the quality of recycling across the county.  There was feeling from some Officers, however that the people who repeatedly contaminated dry recycling with food and other waste would not be inspired to work with a specific food waste scheme.

 

The advantages of putting food waste into a specific bin would benefit the public also as it would keep kitchens cleaner and less smelly.  Collection schedules were already in place to collect waste and recycling from every dwelling in the county, so including a new waste stream made minimal impact.  New pods for vehicles would be required, as well as bins for residents.  There had also been evidence that food waste collection altered people's buying habits, as it demonstrated just how much food is wasted.

 

A concern of Officers was to ensure there was a future to food waste collection beyond the trial.  A business case would be needed to take it forward to the next level.

 

RESOLVED

1.    That the development of a Business Case be supported and presented to the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership at its meeting in March 2018;

 

2.    That a publicity campaign to support the Food Waste Trial be discussed by South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council Communications teams.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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