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You could save £430 a year –it’s easy!

Reducing and recycling waste could save you money

Edinburgh homes produce around 40,000 tonnes of food waste each year – this equates to 254 plates of food per minute being thrown in the bin.

Two-thirds of this waste is good, perfectly edible food. By reducing and recycling this waste, the average home could save £430 per year.

To help reduce our food waste the Council has been awarded £1.3 million of Scottish Government funding to roll out food waste recycling to 140,000 homes by spring 2012 and then make the scheme city wide by 2013.

A pilot has been running since April covering a variety of different areas and types of houses. Feedback from the majority of the 50,000 homes taking part has been positive.

Edinburgh is the first city in Scotland to roll out food waste recycling to flatted properties.

Karen Campbell, from Abbeyhill, collects food waste in her flat.

She said: “Collecting food waste is very easy to do and doesn’t cause any noticeable problems. We collect the waste in a small container which doesn’t take up too much space in the kitchen and empty it regularly into the food waste collection bin on our street.

“I think once people try collecting food waste, they’ll realise that it’s easy to do. It also makes you more aware about the amount of good food you’re throwing away.”

Homes receive a kitchen caddy and either a small lockable bin to present at the kerbside or access to a communal bin. The caddy includes a leaflet with collection times and details on what foods can be recycled.

As well as saving money, collecting our food waste helps reduce harmful gases produced through landfill. Instead it is used to make biogas for energy or fertiliser and compost for use in agriculture.

Residents will be informed when the service is about to be rolled out to their street.