Food Waste Collection Trials Interim Report. Prepared by Zero Waste Scotland. Scottish Government. August 2008

Transcription

1 Food Waste Collection Trials Interim Report Prepared by Zero Waste Scotland To Scottish Government August 20

2 Contract Reference: Submitted to: Food Waste Collection Trials Interim Report Scottish Government Date: August 20 By: Contact: Remade Scotland Caledonian Environment Centre School of the Built and Natural Environment Glasgow Caledonian University 5th Floor, Buchanan House Cowcaddens Road Glasgow G4 0BA T: F: Elaine Close is lead contact T: The Caledonian Environment Centre is part of the School of the Built and Natural Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University and is supporting environmental research and policy development in Scotland. Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity, number SC021474

3 Contents 1. Introduction Early Results Aberdeenshire Council East Renfrewshire Council Perth & Kinross Council WRAP Trials Communication Communication Strategy Aberdeenshire East Renfrewshire Perth and Kinross Interim Summary of Survey Results Background Current participation in recycling Current methods of disposing of food Willingness to participate in food collection scheme Types of food expected to recycle using scheme Expected use of caddy and liner Awareness of amount of food produced Conclusions... 6 Appendix A... 7 Appendix B... 8

4 1. Introduction Seven food collection trials have been funded in Scotland by the Scottish Government under the Remade Scotland programme. These will complement trials supported by WRAP which have taken place elsewhere in the UK. Of the 7 trials, 4 focus on collection of food only and 3 add to existing infrastructure, collecting food with the garden. One of the food only trials will investigate the feasibility of providing a service to flatted properties. The tables below summarise the Councils taking part in the trials, the number of households proposed and the collection frequency. Table 1 Food Waste Only Council Number of Households Proposed Collection Aberdeenshire Council 5000 Weekly collection. East Renfrewshire Council 6006 Weekly collection. Glasgow City Council/CRNS 684 Weekly collection from flatted properties. Inverclyde Council 5200 Weekly collection. Table 2 Combined Food and Garden Waste Council Number of Households Proposed Collection Falkirk Council Fortnightly collection. North Lanarkshire Council Fortnightly collection. Perth & Kinross Council 7661 Fortnightly collection. All Councils involved in the trials intend to send the food /food and garden to In Vessel Composting (IVC) facilities. The majority of Councils planned to send food /food and garden to one IVC facility. However ongoing negotiations with SEPA around the details of the permit have led to delays. Only 3 Local authorities; Aberdeenshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council and Perth & Kinross Council have therefore been able to begin collections as they are sending food /food and garden to alternative treatment facilities which have the relevant permitting in place. This interim report sets out the early findings (to July 20) of the trials in Aberdeenshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council and Perth & Kinross Council. Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 1

5 2. Early Results 2.1. Aberdeenshire Council This trial is based on weekly collection of food only from 4,873 households. The first collection of food was on the 25 th February 20. The food is being sent to Gray s Composting Services based in Fordyce, Aberdeenshire. Gray s has had relatively little contamination and is very happy with the material being delivered to site by the Council. Aberdeenshire has collected data on set out rates and results show an average rate of 45%. The Council is capturing an average of 3.28kg per participating household and a range of 1.3kg 1.8kg/hh/wk across all households in the trial area East Renfrewshire Council East Renfrewshire Council began weekly collections of food only on 10 th April 20. The material is being bulked at William Tracey s site in Lugton, Ayrshire and then transported to TEG Environmental Plc in Perth. TEG states that the food delivered to site is very clean. East Renfrewshire Council chose to pursue an opt in system for the food collections. Householders were sent a leaflet and asked to inform the council of their willingness to participate in the trial. This resulted in approximately 25% of the anticipated 6,006 households being provided with a food collection service. To increase the number of households participating in the trial East Renfrewshire Council introduced an opt out system. This involved delivery of letters to a set number of households per week asking householders to contact the Council if they did not want to participate in the scheme. The first bins were delivered on the 26 th of March 20 and the number of households with containers has increased each week resulting in approximately 70% of households within the trial area being provided with a food collection service. Since the beginning of the trial the yield of food collected has ranged from kg/hh/week across all Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 2

6 households with a food bin. East Renfrewshire Council recently collected data on set out rates and results show an average rate of approximately 45% Perth & Kinross Council Perth & Kinross Council began collecting combined garden and food on 30 th April 20. The material is being sent to TEG Environmental Plc. TEG is generally very happy with the material being delivered to site. Perth & Kinross identified 6,135 households suitable for the food collection service. The Council collects an average of 5.3kg/hh/wk combined food and garden. In order to quantify the percentage of food within the combined the Council plans to undertake a compositional analysis. In the latest Kerbside Best Practice Report by Remade Scotland Perth and Kinross collected an average of 3.28kg/hh/wk garden in This figure is an annual average and does not highlight the seasonal fluctuations associated with garden collections. The Council also intends to carry out a survey on set out rates shortly. Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 3

7 3. WRAP Trials A report is being produced for the Food Waste Collection Trials which took place in England and Northern Ireland. These trials began in April 2007 and focussed on the weekly collection of food only. WRAP has indicated that food only collections yield a range of 1 2.5kg/hh/wk. The report will be published at the beginning of September. In addition WRAP has secured funding to carry out analysis of mixed food and garden schemes in England. 4. Communication 4.1. Communication Strategy To support the food collection trials, a range of communication materials have been produced by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) to help residents start using their new collection service. Materials have been produced following a series of food collection discussion groups with members of the public. The groups helped determine the level of information that is required in the campaign materials. Importantly, the communication materials also link into the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, to help reduce the amount of food produced Aberdeenshire Prior to the start of the food trials, all relevant households were sent an introductory postcard (see Appendix A) which introduced the service. An 8 page leaflet (see Appendix B) and kitchen caddy with information decal was delivered to those households who were participating in the service. Press, outdoor media and information sessions were also used locally to promote the trial East Renfrewshire An introductory postcard (see Appendix A) was used to introduce the households to the trials. As the trial was opt in, the households were given the option to become involved in the trial at this stage. If they chose to take part, an information leaflet (see Appendix B), kitchen caddy and outdoor bin were delivered to the household. Displays were also used in the locality to promote the trial Perth and Kinross Again, prior to the start of the food trials, an introductory postcard (see Appendix A) was sent to all households which would be involved, introducing the new service. An information pack and kitchen caddy was delivered to the households, which included a letter, information booklet (see Appendix B) and a caddy insert. Displays were also in the local area to promote the trial. Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 4

8 Council 1 st Phase 2 nd Phase 3rd Phase 4 th Phase 5 th Phase Aberdeenshire Food presurvey December 07 East Renfrewshire Perth & Kinross Food presurvey January Food presurvey Feb March Introductory postcard Introductory postcard Introductory postcard 8 page leaflet Food bin decals Press ad Outdoor materials Contamination tags A4 leaflet Kitchen caddy decals Contamination hangers Pull up banner Info packletter and booklet Kitchen caddy decals Kitchen caddy inserts Love food hate door drop September Love food hate door drop September Love food hate door drop September Food postsurvey December Food postsurvey November Food postsurvey October 5. Interim Summary of Survey Results 5.1. Background To date 1431 households have been surveyed in selected areas of Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, East Renfrewshire and Glasgow Councils (listed in order surveyed) where the food collection pilot schemes were about to be run Current participation in recycling 86% 1 had access to a Kerbside Recycling service or to on street recycling points. Of those 86%; 96% used the services. 19% home compost Current methods of disposing of food 87% currently put their food in the residual bin 1 The overall percentage with access to a Kerbside service has reduced due to the large number of properties in Glasgow without a service. Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 5

9 14% home composted (mainly fruit and vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds) Willingness to participate in food collection scheme 74% would be willing to take part in the food collection scheme 4% were unsure. Of the 22% not willing to participate the reasons cited included; o not having enough food o home composted food o insufficient space for storage o feed food to animals o a small proportion (2%) considered it was too much effort Types of food expected to recycle using scheme Of the 78% willing to participate or were unsure; o 91% would recycle miscellaneous foods (e.g. leftovers, tea bags etc), o 88% would recycle fruit and vegetables, o 81% meat and fish and o 74% dairy products 5.6. Expected use of caddy and liner Of the 78% willing to participate or were unsure; 91% would use the caddy and 95% the liner Awareness of amount of food produced 51% were aware of how much food their household produced, identified as being mainly being peelings, leftovers, fruit and vegetables. 6. Conclusions Early findings show that yields from the Scottish food only collection schemes range from 1.3kg 2.6kg/hh/wk. This is for all households with a food collection bin; kg/hh/wk is higher in participating households (3.28kg in Aberdeenshire). Further information will be available once the other Councils have established their set out rates. Data for combined food and garden is somewhat limited at the moment as only one Council has started collections. Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 6

10 Appendix A Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 7

11 Appendix B Aug 20 Interim Report on Food Waste Trials 8