New food waste recycling service for Knowsley

6 May 2009

Knowsley residents are being offered the chance to sign up for a new food waste collection recycling service.

From this week, all Knowsley residents will receive a newsletter inviting them to get involved with the new collection service, which will be introduced from 5 October 2009.

The new service is aimed at increasing recycling rates in the borough and preventing food waste going to landfill and producing harmful greenhouse gases.

Residents who opt-in to the new service will be provided with a small caddy for storing food waste outside. They will also receive a mini caddy and a supply of compostable liners which can be used to store food waste in the kitchen before transfer to the external container.

The food waste will be collected by the Council on a weekly basis and taken for composting into a soil improving fertilizer.

The newsletter will be followed by a high profile radio advertisement campaign encouraging local recyclers to get involved.

Those interested in signing up for the service are asked to register their interest before 29 May 2009 by calling 0151 443 2400, filling in our online form, calling into one of the Council’s one-stop shops or filling in the form provided in the newsletter.

Cllr David Lonergan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Delivery said: “Around 6.7 million tonnes of household food waste is produced each year.  When this decomposes in a landfill site it produces methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

“This ‘opt-in’ service will help divert this waste away from landfill and avoid landfill penalties of up to £150 per tonne. Knowsley has reached its 25% recycling target for 2008/09. We are confident this new service will help boost these rates even further.”

Join the scheme online

For media enquiries, contact: Cathy Sheel, Communications Manager, Knowsley Council Neighbourhood Services on 0151 443 2425 / 07799 482382.