New Plan For Food Waste Recycling

FOOD waste produced by Oxfordshire residents may soon be processed rather than thrown into landfill sites.
Oxfordshire County Council has given the go-ahead to go out to tender to find the best company to deliver the new technology. It is hoped that this will be in place in two years’ time.
District Councils across the county work with the county council as part of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. The OWP indicated in late 2006 that it wanted the idea of food waste processing to be pursued.
OCC have said: “The process will mean that collections of food waste can be conducted by district councils and will help the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership cut back even more on the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. Currently over 33% of waste is recycled. However strict Government imposed fines come into effect from 2009 if targets to divert waste from landfill are not met.
“The county council has already set in motion the process of finding technology to deal with all waste that is not recycled. That tendering process will determine the nature of the chosen technology. The county council is neutral about which technology will eventually be chosen.”

Oxfordshire is one of the highest recycling counties in the country. However, some European countries recycle far more, although none of them recycle anywhere near 100% and all have to use other technologies to avoid large amounts of waste going to landfill.

Councillor Kieron Mallon, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, said: “Oxfordshire is full of keen recyclers who want to do their bit for the environment. This new technology will give them far more scope to do that. All Oxfordshire councils are working together to deliver this and I look forward to the technology coming on stream.”

Councillor Roger Belson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This was an easy decision to take. It is pure common sense for us to pursue food waste processing. From 2009 councils will be fined if they do not meet strict targets to divert waste from landfill. This new technology will help us along the way and will be welcomed by Oxfordshire people who have proved their green credentials time and time again.”