Weekly food waste recycling is being rolled out to almost 12,700 additional homes across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire from Monday (24 August).

The households, stretching from Bar Hill to Trumpington, bring the total number of homes receiving the service to more than 60,500. It is the third wave of collections rolled out by the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service, with all homes to benefit by the end of the year. Since launching in July, the service has collected more than 2,800 tonnes of food waste, which is being used to generate power and create biofertiliser.

Food waste caddy bins next to blue bins. Picture: South Cambs District Council

The government’s Simpler Recycling legislation makes weekly collection of household food waste mandatory for all local authorities.

City councillor Rosy Moore, cabinet member for climate action and environment, said: “We’ve seen a really positive response to the new service, with most households using it every week. In particular, the scheme is working very well at flats, most of which have not had any way to recycle food waste before. I’m pleased those residents will now have more ways to make a difference through recycling.”

Food waste recycling caddy in the kitchen. Picture: David Johnson

Homes are being given a new outdoor caddy to put out with their wheelie bins weekly on their usual bin days. Households will also be given a smaller indoor caddy to collect food waste in the kitchen.

The collected food waste is taken to Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants at Baldock. March and Thetford and the biogas given off by the decomposing food is captured and used to generate power.

When fully broken down the food becomes biofertiliser that can be spread on farmland.

A food waste recycling bin outdoors. Picture: David Johnson

The process reduces demand for oil and gas through providing a renewable alternative fuel while also reducing impact on the climate crisis by preventing the release of landfill gases including methane into the atmosphere.

Cllr Laurence Damary-Homan, lead cabinet member for the environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “You might think that you don’t create any food waste, but even things like teabags, banana peel and onion skins can be included, and it all adds up! In fact, recycling food waste is one of the most impactful actions you can do at home – one full caddy could power a TV for 2 hours.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council is rolling out a similar scheme.

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