Cannock Chase residents have recycled more than 95 tonnes of food waste in just seven days since the new collection service launched on Monday, 27 April. Around 44,000 households across the district received new food waste containers to support the scheme, exceeding initial expectations for participation and uptake.
Each household in Cannock received a seven-litre kitchen caddy and a 23-litre outdoor bin as part of the rollout. The service accepts a wide range of food items including fruit and vegetable peelings, fish, meat, bones, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggs and dairy products. Residents can now separate their food waste from general household refuse.
All collected food waste from Cannock goes to an anaerobic digestion facility in the area, where it is converted into renewable energy and turned into digestate for agricultural use. This process diverts significant quantities of waste from landfill sites while generating sustainable energy. Joss Presland, Head of Operations, noted that the strong start demonstrates residents' commitment to cutting waste and helping the environment.
The average household in Cannock throws away around £800 worth of edible food every year, according to figures shared during the scheme launch. This wasted food represents money that could be saved by being more careful about what ends up in the bin. The new collection service aims to help residents reduce this unnecessary waste.