Food waste policy is set for overhaul

In 2010 the borough council introduced co-mingled garden and food waste collections as part of the brown bin service. It meant 43,000 properties with a garden could receive a weekly collection of food waste by alternate week use of their grey and brown bins.

A separate weekly food waste collection via a caddy was also introduced for properties without gardens.

But now, following their decision to “mothball”some facilities at the Farington Waste Recovery Park, Lancashire County Council is requesting all districts to stop the initiative.

If South Ribble Council agree at a meeting later this month, the mingled garden and food waste collections will stop from June 1. So too will collections of food caddies.

Normal garden waste will still be collected and there are no plans to fine residents who continue to mingle their waste.

A council spokesman said: “We want to educate, not punish our residents.”

A report to cabinet members, which will be discussed on April 6 warns: “Should the council decide to continue collecting food and garden waste together LCC would look to pass on the extra cost of in vessel composting, which would no longer be available at Farington Waste Recovery Park, as opposed to their new preferred and lower cost method of wind row composting.”

The extra cost of not scrapping co-mingling is estimated to be in the region of £450,000 and £540,000.

If changes are passed, letters will be issued to residents to explain the changes.