West Norfolk digs out kitchen bins as food waste collections resume
Weekly collections will start up again now Covid restrictions have eased.
People in King's Lynn and West Norfolk are being urged to dig out their kitchen caddy and outdoor food waste bins as collections resume again in the area.
The Borough Council says it'll resume weekly collections now that they don't have to worry about social distancing in their waste and recycling vehicles.
Cllr Paul Kunes, Cabinet member for Environment at the Borough Council said: "I'm delighted to see food waste collections resume as quickly as they possibly can, from day one of us moving to step 4.
"Collections were suspended when social distancing rules were introduced, and we had to limit the number of crew in our waste and recycling vehicles.
"From 19 July we can add an extra crew member to each collection team and reintroduce the weekly food waste collection.
"Nationally 1.3 million apples, 5.8 million potatoes, 5.9 million glasses of milk and 240 million slices of bread are thrown away every year. In west Norfolk we say please don't chuck it in your black bin, feed it to your food caddy.
"Around a third of what is placed in black bins is food waste, using your food caddy is environmentally friendly, will make your black bin smell better and create more space in your black bin.
"Before the suspension our residents were recycling 3,000 tonnes of food waste each year, I urge them to get back into the habit and please start putting their larger outdoor food waste bin out with their waste or recycling collection every week."
Food waste from the collection goes to an anaerobic digester where it naturally produces methane gas, which is then used to generate electricity.
Farmers use the material left at the end as fertiliser, which reduces the need to use chemicals on the land.
The food waste at the anaerobic digester facility is fed initially through a special machine that strips out any plastic bags and sends them off to produce electricity. Residents can line their kitchen food waste caddies with old plastic carrier bags, bread bags, fruit and veg bags and other freezer/sandwich bags can be used to line the bin or to put food waste in.
This will keep their caddy and outside bin clean and hygienic - and also provide an additional use for single-use plastic bags. Alternatively caddies can be lined with newspaper.
What can and can't you do after July 19th?
What are the changes happening on 'Freedom day'?
From the 19th July in England, wearing facemasks is no longer compulsory. You'll no longer be legally required to wear one when you're out and about.
What are the changes happening on 'Freedom day'?
From the 19th there will be no legal limits on the size of groups that can gather, meaning no rule of six or bubbles to consider.
What are the changes happening on 'Freedom day'?
All social distancing rules are scrapped from the 19th July
What are the changes happening on 'Freedom day'?
From 'freedom day' workers are no longer being asked to work from home if possible, the government have said that people can go back into the workplace, even if they can do their job from home
What things are going back to normal?
Nightclubs and events like concerts, gigs and theatres will be able to re-open as normal from the 19th, although the government are encouraging venues like nightclubs to use Covid status certification, often called vaccine passports.
What things are going back to normal?
With no limit on the numbers that can gather and social distancing rules removed, Wedding sand funerals and other large occasions are back to normal.
What things are going back to normal?
Pubs and restaurants can go back to having people order at the bar and not have to have screens between tables, although it's thought many will keep some of the precautions in place.
Where do I need to wear a facemask?
Despite it no longer being a legal requirement, the government have made it clear that they recommend and expect facemasks to be worn in crowded areas and on public transport. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has made facemasks compulsory on public transport in London, with travel operators around the country making their own decisions on rules.
What do you still have to do after 'Freedom Day'?
If you're pinged by the NHS test and trace app because you've been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus you do still have to isolate. The government announced this will be ending for those who have had both doses of the vaccine and those under 18, but that doesn't come into force until the 16th August
What do you still have to do after 'Freedom Day'?
Countries you can travel to and from and whether you need to quarantine are still regulated by the green, amber and red lists. Although from the 19th July people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to return quarantine-free to England from amber list countries