Over 80 tonnes of food were collected from homes across Stafford Borough during the first few days of a new weekly service.

In March, it was announced that around 60,000 properties across Stafford would receive two new containers for food waste in preparation for a new collection service which began last Monday (13 April).

The Government funded scheme is part of a national drive to increase the amount of food waste being recycled across the country.

Stafford bin crews were even sent out on Sunday because of the volume of food that needed to be collected.

The food waste will be taken to an 'anaerobic digestion' plant to be converted into energy and the digestate produced used in agriculture to improve soil.  

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Ian Fordham, said: "This is the biggest change to household recycling across our borough in more than a decade - and the evidence from the first week suggests residents are supporting it. 

"Obviously rolling out a national initiative across the whole country has made this extremely challenging with local authorities competing to have new vehicles and containers ready to deliver the service - so I can understand how other councils have not been able to do this within the government timescales." 

The kerbside caddy is being collected alongside the green, blue and brown bin but at a different time of day and in a different vehicle.

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Items that can go in the caddy are as follows: 

• Fruit and vegetables - including peelings  
• Fish, meat and bones  
• Tea bags and coffee grounds  
• Eggs and dairy products 

Items that can't go in the caddy include: 

• Liquids 
• Oils 
• Fats 
• Garden waste 
• Food packaging 

Councillor Fordham added: "There is no additional charge to our residents for the new equipment or the service as this has been funded by central government."  

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