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Essex County Council is working in partnership with local authorities across Essex in a mission to increase the amount of food waste being recycled at the kerbside.

With around 25% of food waste in Essex ending up in the general rubbish bin, the project presents an opportunity to reduce the amount of food waste being sent to landfill.

This project is being rolled out in three phases, with the first two phases now complete, the third and final phase will start this month and will commence with households in Basildon, Maldon and Rochford.

*Households in the Maldon District will receive a sticker on their general rubbish bin, a roll of caddy liners and an information leaflet about food recycling to encourage households to recycle their food waste.

This is a tried and tested method which has helped other authorities to reduce the amount of food thrown away in the general rubbish, by increasing food recycling by up to 20%.

When food is recycled at the kerbside, it is transformed into energy and fertiliser. It is amazing to think that recycling just six tea bags will generate enough energy to boil a kettle to make another cuppa!

Cllr Richard Siddall, Leader of Maldon District Council, said; “We are pleased to be working with Essex County Council and Love Essex on this initiative to encourage greater participation of this kerbside food waste collection.

“We believe we are one of the highest performing Councils in Essex for the collection of food waste with households in the Maldon District recycling 2400 tonnes of food waste last year, but we can always do better. I hope that those who do not currently recycle their food waste will be encouraged to do so.”

For more information about the project and how to recycle your food waste, visit www.loveessex.org/food-recycling

ENDS

Notes to editors

*Communal collections will not be part of this initiative.

• ECC’s initiative will start in the Maldon District on 16 January and run for up to 8 weeks.