Food waste is a valuable resource. Just throwing it away is wasteful since it can be turned into fertilisers such as compost and green energy (biogas). This avoids food waste ending up in landfill sites where it creates harmful methane gas, a powerful greenhouse gas which contributes towards climate change.
Over the past ten years, Westminster City Council has successfully collected food waste from businesses separately. This resulted in no less than 65,000 tonnes of it diverted away from incineration. The food waste was collect goes for anaerobic digestion and is turned into agricultural fertiliser and green energy for the power grid.
Each year we collect enough food waste to produce the fertiliser needed to nourish the wheat for 580,000 loaves of bread. Recycling food waste ensures valuable nutrients are preserved: what starts on the farm, ends on the farm.
Collecting food waste from businesses as well as homes has many advantages. As such, from 2023 it will become compulsory for businesses to have their food waste collected separately. Ahead of this, many local authorities are now making plans to collect food waste from the commercial sector. Here is where Westminster City Council can help by providing expertise and advice to our colleagues at other London Boroughs.
ReLondon asked Commercial Waste Services to showcase the possibilities around collecting food waste from businesses as part of a London-wide programme aimed at improving recycling by businesses. ReLondon is a partnership of the Mayor of London and the London Boroughs to improve waste and resource management and transform the city into a leading low carbon circular economy.
Together with our long-term marketing agency BabelQuest, we are sharing our combined knowledge and experience on how to successfully implement and promote food waste collections in an urban environment.
ReLondon helps improve recycling in the capital
ReLondon helps the London Boroughs improve recycling. A series of specific sessions on food waste provides information to Borough officers on what an effective service provision model for food waste collections looks like, as well as what operations are involved, how to expand service provision, and good practice on engaging businesses and encouraging service uptake.
Food waste collections for your business
Ahead of the new requirements for the separate collection of food waste coming in, we strongly recommend businesses start planning ahead on the separate collection of food waste. Commercial Waste Services will be available with help, expertise and guidance to ensure a suitable collection arrangement is put in place. Our page on food waste services provides useful information on the options available. Our friendly, locally based and experienced staff are never far away from you and your business to meet and discuss a solution for your food waste management.
Are you looking for a food waste recycling service? If so, get in touch. If you would like to find out more about our food waste collection service, download further information by clicking the image below.
