TO thank local residents for doing a great job of recycling their food waste, West Devon Borough Council is giving away free food waste liners as part of the national Customer Services Week next week.
The council will also be handing out free energy saving light bulbs and holding competitions during a week of activities.
The food waste collections in Tavistock and Okehampton have been a huge success since they were introduced as part of a nationwide trial by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
WRAP have just released a report which shows that during the national trials, 4,400 tonnes of food waste was diverted from landfill avoiding the equivalent of 2,000 tonnes of CO2, assuming waste collected was treated by in-vessel composting. Local households on the trial inputted to these figures by each diverting an average of 1.6kg of food waste per week away from landfill sites.
West Devon Borough Council applied to take part in the food collection trials as local tests have shown that food makes up over one fifth of our household waste after the recycling element is removed. The kerbside collections now allow this food to be taken to a local biogas site where it is turned into sustainable compost for farmers whilst generating electricity for the national grid.
Residents have been given caddies and most use bio-degradable liners made of corn-starch to line them. However, newspaper or kitchen towels can be used to wrap the waste as these compost just as well.
As a special 'thank you' and to celebrate 'Customer Services Week' free packs of liners will be given to anyone visiting the council offices at Kilworthy Park, Tavistock or St James Street, Okehampton during next week.
The council is also running a best dressed compost bin competition where £50 worth of garden vouchers goes to the owner of of the most imaginative customised composter.
Email a photo of your creation to [email protected]">[email protected], take in a copy to the offices at Tavistock or Okehampton, or post to: Best Dressed Compost Bin Competition, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock PL19 0BZ to arrive by Friday October 10 and include contact details.
Anyone who would like to know more about National Customer Services Week or the events and competitions should contact West Devon's Customer Services on 01822 813600 or email [email protected]">[email protected].