A food waste collection trial started in Ravensbury ward on Monday in an attempt to reduce the 6.2 million tonnes of food waste that was sent to landfill in Britain last year.

Food waste is biodegradable, so rots when it is sent to landfill and produces methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas, which is considerably more destructive than carbon dioxide.

The trial, which will last for 12 months and cover approximately 2,000 homes, is an initiative of the newly formed South London Waste Partnership (SLWP). SWLP is a partnership with the London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton. It was set up to tackle the major challenge of achieving a dramatic and sustained reduction in the amount of household waste that is sent to landfill. SLWP has secured support from WRAP to run this trial.

The aim of this scheme is to divert as much food waste from landfill as possible. Food waste will be collected and taken to the composting facility at Beddington Lane, Sutton. Here it will be composted in a controlled way, which will kill any bugs.

Residents in Ravensbury ward have been sent an introductory leaflet outlining the trial, as well as guidance on how to use the caddies, bins and liners. Food waste will be collected from brown bins at the front of residents’ homes.

The following items are included in the food waste collection trial:

Meat (including bones)
Fish
Dairy products and eggshells
Fruit
Vegetables
Tea bags and coffee grounds

Councillor Tariq Ahmad, Cabinet Member for Environment and Traffic Management said:

“Food waste makes up approximately 23% of household waste in Merton and it is likely that the separate collection of food waste will be an integral part of the SLWP strategy.

“We hope that if the trial proves to be a success, we will extend it to other parts of the borough.”

Food waste will be collected every Thursday as part of the trial.

For further information on the food waste collection trial, please contact 020 8545 4774.