WEST Devon's environment and community committee has agreed to continue the popular food waste recycling collection service in Tavistock and expand it to a further 2,500 homes in other areas of the borough over the next few months. The scheme, which has been piloted across homes in Tavistock over the past year, has proved to be successful in diverting more than 240 tonnes of waste away from landfill and recycled into a product which can be used for land reclamation and horticulture. More recently, the waste has been taken to a local plant where the gases produced are used to generate electricity which is fed into the national grid. Since April 2007, Tavistock householders have been separating their household food waste for weekly collection by a borough council recycling crew. The 12-month food waste pilot was one of just 17 trials being carried out by local authorities nationwide partly funded by the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) which is financially supported by DEFRA. Now, due to overwhelming support from residents, councillors have approved plans to continue the service and expand it to other communities in the borough. Cllr Chris Jenkins, chairman of the environment and community committee, said: 'In a recent survey the food waste collection trial was the second most important service to Tavistock residents so we are delighted, not only to extend the service for another year, but also to include a further 2,500 homes. 'Food waste is one of the principal contributors to the production of methane, a greenhouse gas that is up to 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. 'This service means we can divert this biodegradable food waste away from landfill to an energy from waste plant in Holsworthy where it is used to produce energy and fertiliser — a win/win outcome for everyone.' Funding for the service, which is expected to cost around £70,000, has been found through grants from various government organisations and an anticipated uplift in recycling income. The council has utilised further funding from the waste performance and efficiency grant of £43,000 to buy a food waste vehicle which will keep the contractor's collection costs down. This grant was approved for West Devon because of its excellent performance in recycling. According to WRAP, households in the UK throw away one third of all the food they buy. Food accounts for over one fifth of domestic waste in West Devon. Diverting waste away from landfill was a key priority in the council's initial decision to take part in the trial as rotting food waste produces carbon dioxide and methane – gases linked closely to global warming. Recycling officers will be on Bedford Square, Tavistock, tomorrow (Friday) to provide information on the food waste collections and to answer any other recycling queries.
