Following the introduction of the Environment Act 2021 by the government, Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that Bedford Borough Council will be introducing a new weekly food waste collection service.
Residents will be able to dispose of food waste sustainably into a caddy bin provided by the Council.
The service will be introduced during the 2024/25 financial year.
Mayor Dave said: “This new service will allow residents to dispose of food waste in a more sustainable way.
“Our current plans are that the food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digester plant to produce clean energy and compost.”
Commenting on the plans, Mayoral Candidate and Councillor Tom Wootton commented: “After 14 years in office the current Mayor has finally decided to implement a food waste collection service, the cynic in me tells me there is an election shortly.
“I do however welcome the scheme. I am surprised he is so critical of the Government given that he is waiting on the allocation for Bedford which will go towards funding this new service.
“I am also very disappointed we still have no kerbside glass recycling service. Introducing this service would reduce the Borough’s landfill costs, reduce the amount of glass going to landfill, reduce the Borough’s carbon footprint and raise our recycling rate.”
Lucy Bywater, Green Councillor for Castle Ward said: “Separate food waste collections by the Council are something we are on the record as having raised back in 2019, especially as well over 100 local authorities have been collecting food waste separately, some, for many years.
“The much-delayed Environment Act has made it a requirement for local authorities to take this action and funding was always the sticking point, meaning it seemed to get kicked down the road by Bedford Borough.
“Every year delay has meant more food waste going into back bins and therefore previously onwards to landfill and currently to incineration, neither of which are at all sustainable.
“The sooner this weekly food collection starts, the better!”
The Mayor’s announcement comes during Love Food Hate Waste Week. This year’s theme is ‘Win. Don’t Bin’ aimed at showing residents how you can save time and money by making the most of the food you buy.
You can find out more by visiting www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/take-action-save-food/food-waste-action-week
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