It's not rubbish - message reminds householders of importance of recycling

by Q Radio News

New recycling messages have just been added to the fleet of 24 bin lorries in the district.

It’s part of Mid Ulster Council’s fight against food waste being wrongly placed in black bins.

The new advertising panels are designed to encourage residents to dispose of food waste correctly.

As part of the campaign the council will deliver a free recycling pack to every home in the district.

Designs on the lorries show how one kitchen caddy full of food waste can generate enough energy to toast eight slices of bread or power a television for 2.5 hours.

The project is the next stage in the council’s campaign to get residents to increase food waste recycling.

The council received a £14,550 grant from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to fund the project.

Already as part of the campaign the Council is in the process of delivering a free recycling pack to every home in the district.

The pack includes brown and blue bin stickers detailing what can be disposed of in each bin and a sticker for the black bin saying ‘No Food Waste’ as well as a free roll of compostable caddy liners for food waste.

All the food waste collected in Mid Ulster is mixed with additional organic garden waste and converted into a PAS 100 approved compost.

Councillor Clement Cuthbertson, the Chair of the Environment Committee is delighted the Council is putting so much effort into highlighting the importance of proper food waste recycling.

He said, “The new food waste recycling messaging on Council bin lorries is a fantastic and fitting move which will act as a timely reminder for us all to recycle our food waste more responsibly when we see the vehicles out and about,” he says.

You can download the Council’s free Bin-ovation app by going to www.midulstercouncil.org/binovation.

If you don’t yet have a brown bin or a kitchen caddy, contact Environmental Services on 03000 132 132.