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Leader of Caerphilly Council announces new initiative to encourage food waste recycling

Posted on : 07 Mar 2022

Cllr. Philippa Marsden, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced a new initiative which would give residents the chance to win £500 towards their energy bills in return for putting their food waste caddy out for collection each week.

The “Mash for Cash” campaign aims to increase the number of residents currently recycling their food waste, with current participation levels currently around 40% throughout the Borough. In turn, the Local Authority hopes that the increase in food waste recycling would lead to a decline in the amounts of refuse disposal, boosting the overall recycling rates as well as supporting the Councils commitment to reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and thereby contributing to the national and global goals for decarbonisation.

The initiative which will launch on the 7th March and run throughout 2022 will see houses monitored with one food recycling participant chosen at random each month, with each winner receiving £500.

With average annual energy bills due to rise by £693 in April the prize money could help relieve residents of the majority of the increase, although the cash could be used however the winner sees fit.

Caerphilly County Borough Council currently receive 50p per tonne of anaerobic digestion collected, meaning the scheme can be self-sustaining as the increased tonnage of food waste collected will generate the winnings each month.

Cllr Philippa Marsden, the Council’s Leader, said “I am thrilled to announce this initiative, which we believe is the first of its kind. With the current rise in energy bills, we are very excited to be able to redistribute public funding back into the community in this way with the hope of increasing our current levels of food waste recycling at the same time.”

Councillor Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Waste, Public Protection & Street Scene adds: “We are very excited to be able to offer this initiative to our residents.

“Caerphilly County Borough Council currently stands at number 3 in the national league table for recyclable materials collected at kerbside each week (with participation levels at around 80%). However, our overall recycling performance figures are affected by the relatively low levels of organic waste recycled. In particular, the food waste collection service, where participation levels are low.

“We are confident that this initiative will increase food waste recycling participation and boost recycling figures as a whole”

To view more information or to request a food waste caddy visit https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Household-waste-and-recycling/Food-waste

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