The bins are to be removed on a trial basis starting today (10 August) from addresses in the north west area of Glasgow. The city council says contamination has been a persistent issue at around 30% of addresses.
A spokesperson for Glasgow city council told letsrecycle.com: “There has been a disappointing uptake of the food waste service for flatted properties since its introduction in 2016.
“Very low levels of food waste are eventually recycled, and bins are frequently spoiled with other kinds of waste, which then makes it significantly more expensive to process.
“Resolving issues with contaminated food bins takes up significant time and resources and impacts upon the effectiveness of the wider cleansing service.”
Four-and-a-half-thousand bins will remain at addresses where the council says contamination has not been an issue nor is there any problem with access for staff.
Residents at addresses where bins have been removed will be able to access “an enhanced network of 200 publicly sited food waste bins”, the council says. All bins will be emptied on a 16-day cycle to fit the ‘four-on, four-off’ shift pattern of cleansing crews.
Ongoing problems
The spokesperson added: “Following a councillor-approved review of the food waste service for flatted properties, we are testing a new collection system for a minority of flats in Glasgow North West from next week.
“We are aiming to minimise the issue of contamination and ensure as much food waste can be reprocessed as possible”
“By providing publicly sited bins for addresses where there have been significant ongoing problems, we are aiming to minimise the issue of contamination and ensure as much food waste can be reprocessed as possible.
“Improved recycling rates for food waste will be good for the environment and good value for the council taxpayer.
“We are also hopeful that removing bins from certain addresses leads to improvements in backcourt areas, which will help to reduce complaints about vermin.
“If successful, we hope the new arrangements can be implemented in the north east and south of the city, where the food waste service for flats remains suspended following the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Residents in the North East and South are asked to continue using the general bin for food waste for the time being.”
Food waste
The food waste service for flatted properties in Glasgow is operated by Glasgow city council. This food waste is delivered to a nearby Scottish Water plant for anaerobic digestion.
According to the council, the latest figures show that a total of 2,000 tonnes of food waste collected from flatted properties is sent for reprocessing each year. This compares to 12,000 tonnes recovered separately from houses with a front and back door, though this service also uplifts garden waste from the same bin.
Flats account for 70% of the city’s housing stock. When the food waste service for flatted properties was launched in 2016, Glasgow city council reported that around 50,000 tonnes a year was being sent to landfill.
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