First food waste recycling trial announced for West Sussex
Around 1,100 homes will get special bins as part of the scheme
West Sussex's first weekly trial for separate food waste recycling is to take place in Littlehampton from May.
Around 1,150 homes in the Courtwick and Toddington ward will take part in the trial, which also includes collections of absorbent hygiene waste such as nappies.
It's being launched by Arun District Council in connection with West Sussex County Council and follows a 1-2-3 system, on top of the current fotnightly collections for recycling and garden waste and three week general rubbish collections.
A subscription service is also in place for garden waste and small electrical items will also be collected fortnightly from kerbside properties.
Councillor Samantha-Jayne Staniforth, Arun District Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services said:
“We are really excited to see the introduction of this trial. We have looked at the results of the waste composition analysis and feel we have selected an area that is representative of the district.
"The analysis showed us that food waste makes up approximately 42% of the rubbish currently put out for collection, the areas selected will provide us with an accurate picture of how much food waste and (AHP) we can divert away from being processed as waste.
“The trial areas will contain a good mix of property types, including a small number of flats and HMOs, to test different operational arrangements and communications, so that we can make this a real positive and productive experience for all involved.”
All residents who have been selected to participate and receive kerbside collections, will be given free bins ahead of the start of the trial on May 19th, including a lockable food waste recycling bin and a handy kitchen caddy.
They will also be supplied with a new 240L wheelie bin for their rubbish if they don’t have one already.
Residents who live in flats will be supplied with a free kitchen caddy and their bin stores will be upgraded to collect food waste and AHPs.
A small number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) properties within River Ward will also be included within the trial from September 2021.
West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Deborah Urquhart said:
“This 1-2-3 trial is the first of its type to take place in West Sussex. Our aim is to gain valuable feedback from residents throughout enabling a full review to assist in re-shaping and enhancing rubbish and recycling collections for the district and across the County in the future.
"This will help Arun increase recycling rates and West Sussex to meet, and hopefully continue to exceed, the Government’s target to increase recycling rates up to 55% by 2025 and 65% by 2035."
More details about the trial, including the postcodes involved, can be found on the Arun District Council website.