New food waste reduction scheme for Strabane

By Richard O'Reilly

A new scheme aimed at reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill will be introduced in Strabane over the next few weeks.
 
The roll out will begin this week, with homes receiving a seven litre under the counter caddy for food waste along with a 23 litre caddy and information guides on their usage.

Householders are being asked to begin using the new bins for all food waste to drive down the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

Conor Canning, Head of Environment with Derry City and Strabane District Council, explained that this measure will assist in improving recycling and composting rates:

“Considering the fact that it costs £45 per tonne to recycle food waste, and £76 per tonne to recycle compared to £105 per tonne for waste go to landfill, substantial savings can arise from householders recycling and composting and these then can be reinvested in Council services within the Council area.
 
“We would also like to reinforce the general message about recycling and the benefits to both the environment and cost saving. While the Food Waste scheme is progressing well, Council are still noting that non-recyclable materials are still being deposited into Blue Bins, and I would appeal to people not to dump food and other items such as nappies into the blue bins."

Encouraging members of the public to embrace the scheme, Chairman of the Environment and Regeneration Committee, Cllr Colly Kelly, said: “If you have a food caddy bin, please make sure to use it and remember that collections will be commencing on June 12th."

“You are reminded not to put any packaging, plastic bags, liquids, oil or liquid fat in your caddy,” he said.