FROM the beginning of June, residents of Okehampton will be able to have their food waste collected and recycled at a local plant that produces electricity from the waste as it breaks down. West Devon Borough Council is making changes to the way the food waste is collected in the town so that it can be processed in a more environmentally friendly way. Residents will be given lockable caddies and the waste will be collected weekly from doorsteps and taken to a bio-gas plant in Holsworthy. About one third of all the food we buy in the UK ends up being thrown away but as it rots down it produces methane which causes global warming. By recycling it locally, the food waste is used to produce a sustainable compost whilst generating electricity for the national grid. Cllr Chris Jenkins, head of the council's environment committee, said: 'We are pleased to announce the trial food collection in Tavistock was such a success that with the support of the Waste and Resources Action Programme we have been able to extend this collection to Okehampton at no extra cost to council tax payers. 'Residents of Tavistock have shown their backing of the scheme by diverting more than 380 tonnes of food waste away from landfill and we are sure that Okehampton residents will prove to be just as supportive.' Jane Savage, West Devon's recycling officer, said: 'Around one third of the food we buy ends up being thrown away. In the UK we dispose of around 4.4 million uneaten apples every day. All the energy, water and packaging used in food production, transportation and storage is wasted along with the food. 'There are two main purposes to the scheme: to sustainably manage this type of waste; and to highlight how much good food is actually being thrown away and hopefully change habits.' The collections will run for one year and will cover most households in the town. For information call 01822 813600 or visit http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk