Food waste collection plans for Fenland set to cost £1million in government funding

Fenland District Council has agreed to spend at least £1,061,991 on implementing a new weekly food waste collection.

A report to this month’s cabinet meeting told councillors that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has provided the cash after an appeal by Fenland.

The money is for the necessary containers and vehicles required to implement the collection, which is due to come in at the end of March next year, and is now a legal requirement following new government legislation.

The report explains that the vehicles needed to carry out the collections are set to cost £848,000, with the remaining £213,991 being used to buy the necessary caddies for households to use for food waste.

However, it also warns that the Defra cash may not be enough to cover the full costs and that extra money may be needed from council funds.

The report says that a recent analysis of waste in green bins/black bags found that food waste makes up 37% of waste and that each Fenland home creates almost 180kg of food waste a year.

It adds: “We know from the experience of other authorities that, with ongoing good quality communications and the provision of kitchen caddies and liners, around half of this material is separated for the food waste collection by customers.”

The report says that 50,000 5ltr kitchen caddies will be needed at a cost of between £1.30 and £1.77 each, 46,000 23ltr outdoor caddies with lockable handle will be needed at a cost of £3.53 to £5.90 each, and around 200 to 300 120 to 240ltr wheeled communal bins will be needed for flats. These will cost up to £500 each.

As well as the vehicles and equipment, there will also be a need for more staff, but exact numbers are not yet none.

The council is also hoping that Defra will fund an extension to the council’s vehicle workshop in Melbourne Avenue and is awaiting a response on that.

The report explains Defra will provide “new burdens” funding to help cover the cost of the service – but the council is awaiting to hear what that will be.

The report asked members to agree to delegate power to the corporate director of environmental services, in consultation with the portfolio holder, to purchase the required containers through the most cost efficient means.

Members also agreed that if the costs exceeds the Defra funding then further money will be sought from the council’s reserves.

Any delay in delivering the new service beyond the start of April next year could result in finds, so it was also agreed that officers and the portfolio should keep the government department updated if there are any issues.