DERRY City and Strabane District Council has already seen significant reductions in the amount of food waste going to landfill since the introduction of the new food caddy scheme which is currently being rolled out across the district.
From April 2015 to date, 2968.82 tonnes of food waste has been diverted from landfill resulting in a significant saving of £178,129 to Council.
But there is still more to do in terms of raising public awareness in order to ensure households are disposing of the correct food waste in their caddies and recyclables in their bins, according to the new Chair of the Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Angela Dobbins.
Council is currently delivering the final phase of the scheme with an additional 20,000 food caddies being distributed to homes across Derry and Strabane, and anyone who hasn’t received a caddy should do so in the next 4-5 weeks.
Information is also being circulated with the caddies to ensure people are aware which materials are suitable for each of their bins, including blue and black bins, as Cllr Dobbins explained.
“Obviously it will take time for people to adapt to the new system and Council is working hard to raise awareness about the new food caddy scheme and its benefits,” Cllr Dobbins stressed.
“The food caddies will result in significant cost-savings for Council once fully operational, and these savings can then be channelled into alternative areas.
“I would encourage people to read the information, and if they’re still unsure what materials go in which bin, then there is a full list available online at the Council’s website, or they can contact the council directly for advice.
“I know that some people are unsure about using the caddies, but it really is a very simple system to use.
“The feedback Council has been receiving from households who have been using the caddies for a while is extremely positive and using them has become a regular part of their daily routine.”
Head of Environment with Council, Conor Canning, asked that people support Council staff in making the scheme a success.
“Council is working hard to deliver what is a major operational scheme in terms of the delivery of the new food waste caddies and raising awareness, and we appreciate the patience of the public while we are going through this process.
“At the moment deliveries of the caddies are continuing in a number of local areas as the final phase of the scheme is being rolled out, and some households may have to wait another few weeks until all caddies are delivered.
“I would also remind people to check the materials appropriate for disposal in their blue recycling bins as our crew have been encountering a number of spoiled bins in recent weeks containing all sorts of contaminants.”
When they receive their caddies householders are asked to read the instructions provided carefully to ensure they are disposing of the appropriate waste in their bins.
Food waste collections will take place on the same day as regular bin collections though times may differ.
Further information on this can be found at http://www.derrystrabane.com/services/wasterecycling
To order a caddy or to report a problem call 02871 374 107 or visit www.derrystrabane.com/foodwaste
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