Need for food waste recycling outlined

Pictured (-r) are Mr Ivan Kinney, Cleansing Operative; Councillor Jenny Palmer, Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee and Mr Allen Poots, Cleansing Supervisor, Lisburn City Council.

They will also be receiving a full roll of biodegradable bags to ensure they have enough resources to keep them recycling over the festive season and well into 2014.

Some householders are less inclined to use their brown bin at this time of year when they have less grass cuttings and hedge clippings to dispose of.

But the brown bin should be used all year round for the purpose of food recycling. There are two new items that are now accepted in your brown bin; shredded paper (small amounts) and take away pizza boxes (torn up into small pieces).

Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Jenny Palmer, explained: “Whilst the majority of residents have been using their kitchen caddy and brown bin since food waste has been accepted in it, there are still some residents that are filling up their landfill bin with food waste.

“This leads to an overflowing landfill bin and a brown bin that is not fully utilised.

“We are approaching Christmas and many households will see an increase in their food purchasing and with it an increase in waste. So to avoid the seasonal squashing of bags into the landfill bin use your kitchen caddy and brown bin instead. I guarantee that you will see a difference.”

“We want to discourage local people from wasting food in the first instance and some useful tips and recipes can be found on the ‘love food, hate waste’ website www.ni.lovefoodhatewaste.com.

“If residents do have food waste to dispose of this should be recycled through the brown bin collection scheme with a view to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. No food waste should be placed in the black or blue residual waste bins.”

Sending less food waste to landfill sites is good for the environment and is a more cost effective treatment option than expensive landfill disposal.

Councillor Palmer is urging residents to start recycling food waste: “Waste food should be regarded as a resource and not rubbish. Waste food can be made into valuable and nutrient rich compost. All we are asking of you is to start this process by ensuring all appropriate food waste goes into the brown bin. Your actions at home can really make a difference.”

For further information on recycling contact the Recycling Hotline on: 9250 9453.