Continued investment to stop Essex food going to waste
More than 500,000 households are to receive support to recycle food waste
More than 500,000 households are to receive support to recycle food waste, as the council puts plans in place.
Essex County Council has published it’s 2025/26 budget proposals and annual plan. These set out how the council intends to spend the more than £2 billion it is responsible for next year.
Part of the plans include how it will continue to invest in protecting the environment by increasing recycling. Councils in Essex say there are committed to enabling the recycling, reusing, or composting of at least 65% of all waste by 2035. This is set out in the Waste Strategy for Essex.
To date, the Love Essex team at Essex County Council has supported more than 500,000 households in Essex to recycle their food waste. By providing households with simple tools, this waste is now being collected for recycling.
Recycled food is transformed into green energy to power homes and businesses. Disposing of food in general rubbish is the least sustainable and most expensive waste management option.
Councils are now focusing on how they can help even more people recycle, including those living in flats. Essex County Council will continue to support district, borough and city councils to extend current services, and to provide residents with tools and information to play their part in reducing waste and increasing recycling.
Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Councillor Peter Schwier, said: “We are ambitious in our targets to recycle, reuse or compost food waste as we know the impact of sending it to landfill is significant. Our ongoing efforts include considering how we can best maximise our budget and resources to empower and equip residents to help us meet these targets.
“Recycling food that can’t be eaten is something every household can easily do. The impact won’t just be felt in the here and now, but long into the future too. The lasting legacy of the simple tools we have provided, alongside our partners, is significant and demonstrates how we are not only talking about our aims for waste but prioritising investment to deliver on them.”
The first phase of this work took place between July 2023 and January 2024. 375,000 households with a wheeled bin for general rubbish received a bin sticker, an information leaflet and one of roll of caddy liners to enable them to recycle their food waste.
The second phase of the project started in October 2024. This focused on households with black sacks. 131,000 households received a flyer giving advanced notice about the project and encouraging residents to order a food caddy. This was followed three weeks later by a free roll of caddy liners and an information leaflet all about food recycling. This phase will finish on 31 January 2025.
The first phase of the project achieved an average increase of 21% of food recycled within the first three months. Results for the second phase of the project are expected by April 2025.