Food waste

Why are we starting a food waste collection service?

Analysis of what households throw away shows that the largest portion of general waste is made up of food waste, contributing over 40%. The Waste Strategy 2007 for England identifies food waste as a key priority for reducing the quantity of residual waste requiring disposal. Equally, national targets for increasing recycling and reducing the amount of bio-degradable waste that is placed in landfill sites have been set. If local authorities, such as Woking, do not meet these targets Central Government can levy substantial fines.

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Why is bio-degradable waste so bad for the environment?

Bio-degradable waste is any sort of material made of natural products that will rot down, such as, paper, cardboard, garden waste or food waste. When food waste decomposes in a landfill site it releases methane - a greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide and is a contributing factor in climate change.

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Will I receive a weekly food waste collection?

The majority of households in Woking will receive a weekly collection of food waste.

In Woking there are about 40,000 households and the service will initially be provided to around 34,000. The Council will work with its contractor to resolve how weekly food waste collections can be provided to the remaining, more difficult, property types such as flat developments.

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When will I receive my food waste containers?

Weather permitting, delivery of the food waste containers is planned to start mid January 2010, and will take around 3 weeks to complete.

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What happens if I do not receive a food waste bin?

Those households not included as part of the initial delivery and collection scheme will be notified by letter in January. Once the new food waste service has settled down for the majority of residents we will start to look at ways to extend the service to the remaining property types. This may need to be completed on an individual site-by-site basis and you will be kept fully informed prior to any change in service.

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When can I start using my food waste containers?

You can start using your food waste containers as soon as they are delivered. Your first collection will take place the week after you receive your containers.

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How will the service work?

An information leaflet explaining how the service works will be included within the container.

Residents will be provided with two containers: one silver seven-litre caddy which is designed to go on your kitchen worktop for easy storage of your food waste, and one 23-litre green collection bin for outside use. When the kitchen caddy is full, simply empty it into the green collection bin.

 

The green collection bin is the container we will collect. It has a lockable lid, which means it will be easily stored outside. Simply close the lid of the box tight, and then move the handle so that it is at the front of the container. To open it simply move the handle over to the back.

 

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How often will food waste be collected?

The green food waste collection bin will be emptied weekly, on the same day as your waste and recycling containers. Please ensure that all bins are presented at the boundary of your property by 6:30am on your scheduled collection day.

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How can food waste be collected weekly?

New vehicles will be employed on the service and these have two separate compartments, one for either recycling or waste and the second for food waste. Therefore only one vehicle is needed to collect both types of waste from your property.

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Where do I put the bin for collection?

Please ensure that your food waste collection bin is placed at the boundary of your property, along with your waste or recycling container by 6:30am on the day of your collection.

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What can I recycle in my food caddy?

All items of cooked and uncooked food waste can be recycled using this service, including:

Bread, cakes and biscuits    Cheese
Eggs (including shells) Coffee grounds
Tea bags and tea leaves Fish (including bones)
Rice and pasta Noodles
Meat (including bones) Takeaway leftovers
Plate scrapings Fruit and vegetables

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What cannot be put in my food caddy?

The following items cannot be recycled using the food waste collection service:

Any plastic, including plastic bags Green garden waste
Pet litter or pet food Animal bedding
Disposable nappies Cat, dog or other animal faeces
Wood shavings or ash Hair
Cardboard (these can be placed in your blue recycling bin or sack) Dead flowers
Packaging Tins (these can be placed in your blue recycling bin or sack).
Straw/hay Cutlery or kitchenware
Cooking oil Milk

Please note: these items will contaminate your food waste and your bin will not be collected.

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What happens to the food waste once it is collected?

Food waste will be transported to Surrey County Council's Waste Transfer Stations at either Slyfield in Guildford or Leatherhead, which are managed by Surrey Waste Management. The food waste is then taken to a composting plant in Kent.

At the facility, food waste is mixed and placed into tunnels. Each tunnel has a controlled environment where air-flow, temperature and moisture content can be adjusted. This allows both cooked and uncooked food waste to be composted correctly. All emissions from the enclosed tunnels are filtered through a scrubber and bio-filter.

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What happens to the food waste once it is composted?

The compost produced meets the Animal By-Product Regulations 2005 and can be used by agricultural, horticultural and land-based industries. For example, as a soil improver in agriculture or as topsoil in land restoration.

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What happens if the bin is not collected?

If we have been unable to empty your food waste container, then a hanger label will be placed on the bin to tell you why. If there is no hanger label indicating why the food waste collection bin has been rejected, then it may have been missed. If you think your container has been missed, please contact Woking Borough Council on 01483 755855.

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What happens if my food waste is rejected?

If your collection bin contains items that are unsuitable for the composting facility, it will not be emptied by the collection crews and a hanger label will be placed onto the bin. In these cases, please remove any unsuitable items and re-present the food waste collection bin the following week for collection.

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Won't the food waste attract animals?

The outside collection bin lid can be locked or opened by altering the position of the attached handle. We would recommend that the outside collection bin is not left with the lid open and unlocked. Experience elsewhere shows that hygiene issues are considered less important by residents who actually participate in collections, indicating that these are often perceived issues rather than problems actually experienced in reality.

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If I put extra food out for collection by the bin, will this be collected?

No. Unfortunately we are unable to collect any extra food waste not contained in the collection bins. Anything presented outside the collection bin will not be taken by our collection crews.

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Can I still use my home compost bin?

Yes. The food waste collections can be used in addition to your home compost bin. Food waste collections will be a suitable method of recycling items such as meat and fish, which cannot be composted in a traditional home composter.

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Can I still use my Food Waste Digester?

Yes. However, there may be occasions where you would prefer to have your food waste collected, for example, during periods of cold weather when the composting process slows down.

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Can I still use my wormery?

Yes. The food waste collections can be used in addition to your wormery. Food waste collections will be a suitable method of recycling items such as meat and fish, which you are unable to compost in a wormery.

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I do not produce food waste, what should I do with the containers?

Even if you rarely produce food waste, or produce small quantities, it is important that you compost it rather than send it to landfill and damage the environment. The Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has shown in `The Food We Waste' study that even households that claim to generate no food waste at all can produce on average 2.9kg per week. From collection schemes elsewhere, `unavoidable' food waste, such as peelings, cores and bones, account for the highest proportion of separately collected food waste. For these reasons we ask that you keep the bins and use them when ever necessary.

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I don't have time to recycle - why should I have to do this?

Using this service really is easy. All you need to do is put your food waste in the small container, instead of your usual rubbish bin and put it out with your waste and recycling for collection. By taking part in the scheme, you will be directly helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping the Council and Borough residents to save money by avoiding landfill taxes and potential fines for sending biodegradable waste to landfill. We are all responsible for the waste we generate and should learn to deal with it in a responsible way.

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What can I use to line my kitchen caddy?

To help residents get started separating their food waste, a one-off supply of 10 compostable liners for the kitchen caddy has been provided.

The recognised European standard is shown below and with liners from most reputable suppliers the logo will be printed on the actual bag itself and we strongly recommend that you use suppliers with this logo wherever possible.
Plastic bags or black bin liners will not be accepted.

Biodegradable and compostable liners are accepted in your food waste containers. These are available from supermarkets and stores in Woking, such as Robert Dyas, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. The shops listed are those that Woking Borough Council has been informed sell approved compostable liners. Please note that we cannot guarantee that these outlets will be able to maintain stocks of liners at all times. 

Alternatively, an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to collect and dispose of food waste is for residents to wrap their food waste directly into newspaper to form parcels that can then be placed directly into their collection container. Newspaper is a natural deodoriser and helps keep the bins clean, plus newspapers and food waste can be composted together.

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Can I use plastic carrier bags to line my kitchen caddy?

No. Under no circumstances must any plastic carrier bags or other alternative plastic bags be used as they will be rejected at point of collection.

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Why can't I line my bin with a plastic bag?

Plastic bags cannot be treated in the food waste process. Therefore they will contaminate the load. However, paper can be treated in the food waste process so you may line your bin with a sheet of newspaper or a paper bag.

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Can I put my house number on the collection bin?

Yes. We would recommend that residents put their house number on the collection bin. This will also help our collection crews to return the bin to the correct address.

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Can I wash the caddy and collection bin using cleaning products?

Yes. We would recommend that both containers are washed out periodically to prevent unwanted smells. If cleaning products are used, please give the containers a final rinse with clean water.

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What happens if I need assistance with the food waste collection service?

If you are having difficulties presenting your general waste, recycling or food waste bin at the boundary of your property for collection, please contact Woking Borough Council on 01483 755855.

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My bin has broken can I have a replacement?

If your bin has broken through usage, please call Woking Borough Council on 01483 755855 and provide your name, address and contact telephone number.

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Can I have another caddy or food waste collection bin?

The Council will provide each household with one seven-litre caddy and one 23-litre outdoor collection bin. If you find it more convenient to have an additional caddy in your kitchen, you may purchase one or alternatively use an old ice cream tub. A single 23-litre outdoor collection bin should provide enough space for the disposal of food waste.