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Portsmouth targets 6% recycling rise with food waste collections

Portsmouth is set to see citywide food waste recycling after the council approved £600,000 in capital funding to roll out the scheme in its budget yesterday (15 February).

Defra previously said voluntary reporting will be explored, but this has now been withdrawn

Portsmouth city council claims this could see its recycling rate increase from 24.7% to 30.4%.

The plan forms part of more than £7 million in funding allocated for waste-related activities, which will also see a trial of 10 new recycling banks, the replacement of its “ageing” fleet of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs), the expansion of a vehicle depot, and “investigatory works” for a proposed anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.

Around 55,000 households – more than two-thirds of the city – are currently participating in a food waste recycling trial which began in September 2019 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The rest of the city will join the food waste recycling scheme “later this year”, the council says, having previously hinted they may do so in the autumn.

Portsmouth has provided the 55,000 households with food caddies and some flats with communal bins, while collections take place weekly on the same day as the residual waste.

The council has sent more than 3,700 tonnes of food waste for recycling into fuel and fertiliser since the trial began.

More than 5,000 tonnes of food waste will be recycled each year by making the scheme city-wide, Portsmouth estimates.

‘A really big difference’

Under plans proposed under the Resources and Waste Strategy, councils are to be expected to carry out separate food waste collections by 2023, with £295 million in funding available from 2025 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Food waste is where we can make a really big difference

  • Cllr Dave Ashmore, Portsmouth’s cabinet member for community safety and environment

Cllr Dave Ashmore, Portsmouth’s cabinet member for community safety and environment, said: “When we first introduced food waste recycling it was just for a small area, but it was always our aim to provide it to the whole city and I’m absolutely delighted we’re able to do that now.

“Food waste is where we can make a really big difference; it is up to 40% of a lot of people’s weekly rubbish collection.

“Food waste feeds climate change and we want to help people not only recycle it, but also reduce the waste too.”

Budget

As part of their budget for 2022/23, councillors also approved £32,500 in funding to trial 10 new recycling banks for mixed plastics including pots, tubs, trays, and films, as well as the refurbishment of the city’s glass banks.

Portsmouth has also allocated funding to refurbish the city’s network of glass banks, one of which can be seen on the right (picture: Shutterstock)

Cllr Ashmore added: “We know recycling is a big issue locally and nationally, and residents are always asking us to do more so it’s great to be bringing in more recycling banks as well.”

Council minutes show councillors also set aside £60,000 to complete “investigatory works” at a site for the proposed AD plant to “facilitate a decision” on whether to proceed to the planning stage.

And, Portsmouth allocated £1.2 million for the expansion of is vehicle depot to “meet the requirements of the Environment Bill” and £5.73 million to replace its existing fleet with energy efficient, low emission duel fuel vehicles in 2023.

Portsmouth

Representing an estimated population of nearly 250,000, Portsmouth city council had a household waste recycling rate of 24.7% in the 2020/21 financial year.

Portsmouth city council had a recycling rate of 24.7% in 2020/21

Biffa carries out waste management services including collections on Portsmouth’s behalf under a contract which began in 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story).

In January 2020, the council announced plans to ‘prioritise’ the recycling of food waste over plastics in the wake of Malaysia returning 42 containers of plastic waste to the UK (see letsrecycle.com story).


National Food Waste Conference
The National Food Waste Conference will bring together key sectors – be they food waste processors, food waste producers, waste management companies, local authorities or charities – to discuss the opportunities and challenges that food waste presents.

With ample time to network and to raise issues with speakers during the day, this is an unmissable event for anyone wanting to be a part of tackling food waste.

View the full agenda and secure your ticket here.

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