Cannock Chase households are starting weekly food waste collections from 27 April as part of a government-wide recycling initiative. Every home has received a 23-litre kerbside caddy and a smaller seven-litre kitchen caddy to participate in the scheme. The kerbside caddy will be collected weekly alongside green and blue bins.
Food waste currently makes up roughly one-third of all household rubbish, with the average family throwing away around £800 worth of edible food every year. The new Cannock collection service aims to tackle this waste problem by diverting food from landfill and incineration sites.
Collected food waste from Cannock will be transported to a local anaerobic digestion plant where it is converted into energy and fertiliser. This process turns household leftovers into green power and useful products, creating environmental benefits from what would otherwise be discarded.
Joss Presland, Head of Operations at the council, says the new service will help residents "play a direct role in reducing our environmental impact." The scheme represents a significant shift in how Cannock handles household waste management.
Cannock residents can find full details about how to use the new food waste caddies and the collection schedule at www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/foodwaste. The weekly collections begin next week, so households should ensure their caddies are ready for the first pickup.