The new food waste collection service is expected to “dramatically improve” in coming weeks, councillors have heard. The new service began in Rye in recent weeks, with reports of missed collections and delivery delays.
Councillors heard on Friday 24 April that the service, operated by Biffa on behalf of the East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership, has experienced teething problems since its phased launch started in late March.
The partnership, which includes Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council and Wealden District Council, reviewed early performance data at a monitoring meeting, the first since food waste collections were introduced.
Council officer Shaun Barnes said the service is still in its infancy, with all 17 collection rounds only fully operational from the week beginning 13 April. During that week, crews collected 162.8 tonnes of food waste, roughly one kilogram per household. He estimated between 50% and 60% of households have been taking part.
However, councillors raised concerns about inconsistent service. Kathryn Field (Liberal Democrat) said she had received numerous complaints from residents about missed collections and households yet to receive their food waste caddies. “Those of us who remember life before Biffa were delighted when they arrived, because complaints dropped significantly,” she said. “But with food waste collections, it feels like we’ve gone back 15 years.”
Biffa representative Trevor Elliott acknowledged early difficulties, citing staff training and vehicle issues as contributing factors. The company has introduced 20 new vehicles and recruited additional staff to deliver the service. Despite the setbacks, he said improvements are expected soon as crews become more familiar with routes and operations. “I am expecting it to improve dramatically beyond next week.”
The partnership says performance will continue to be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
Image Credits: James Stewart .
If you close your eyes and listen very carefully, you will hear a faint spinning and groaning. This is my mother turning in her grave. She was not one to countenance food waste in any shape or form and was famed for her ability to provide a meal for a family of four out of the string that had tied the Sunday joint.
Channelling her, she wonders how much of a carbon footprint these bins have cost to produce? Also, whether the amount of electricity expected to be generated by this project will warrant the costs of both the bins, the collection vehicles and the manpower involved in the waste collection?
The article doesn’t really paint the whole picture. Food waste includes potato peelings and chicken bones – after you’ve made stock if you don’t want to be wasteful! It’s not necessarily food that is edible any more. Home composting is still the preferred option for non-meat / dairy food waste. Only if you can’t do that, use the new service. Note that the food waste collection is national legislation, not just our council. 1 in 4 councils are expected to miss the deadline, so Rother DC has done well to start on time.
This from Rother DC’s website: ‘Food waste makes up about 30% of the average household bin. By actively using the food waste service as much as you can you will be diverting waste away from incineration which although treated does produce some harmful gases in the process of generating electricity. Your food waste will instead be used to produce compost which will go back into our soil which is better for our environment.’
Firstly, it’s not used for generating electricity but producing fertiliser. I’m more than happy with the system, waste food and stuff that is not suitable for composting like potato peelings etc. goes in the caddy.
The system has been in operation for years in other areas and part of recycling and reducing landfill. If people just used it rather than moaning about it, it would be more cost effective.
Yes Margo good points about the over all benefits re extra plastic bins , man power vehicles etc..
I have used the service and have found it perfectly carried out..
I use to compost all my food waste before in a Wormery. But it’s been lovely to use the bin. I will now weathers improving get back to my worms …
But it’s very useful for tea bags and bones. Though I don’t have those every week..
Patience would be a blessing for everyone with a new system. To change people’s habits takes time..
People think they don’t have enough to bother . ie the odd teabag etc ( but every little would collectively help.
Or people’s diets are prepared meals. So not fruit or veg peelings..
The poor new collectors doing new areas to see who has a bin out then there are those left outside all the time that won’t even be filled ..
The collection method of filling a large weekly bin around the streets the weight of a full one … must not be easy. Some of new vehicles used have there design faults of having to use a shovel to fill the back I was told when others don’t …
And people who put the wrong things in ie crisp packets.
I am surprised that the estimated use so far is 50% . I would have put it much lower from what I have seen and hear.
Kathryn Field negative comments re Biffa ‘going back 15years ‘ doesn’t help. As Biffa said things will improve …
May be when we observe what we have put into the bin over a week instead of it disappearing into the normal refuse, we will could get motivated not to waste so much.
Or realise if you have a garden to have a wormery to convert into powerful plant food.
I think you have misunderstood what will happen to the food waste collected. I found this on the RDC website:
Q: What happens to the food waste after collection?
A:When food waste is sent to Veolia’s composting facility, it’s put inside a big, sealed container. Inside, air is pumped in and the waste is mixed around to help tiny microbes break it down. As they work, the container gets hot enough to kill off any harmful germs or weed seeds. Because it’s all enclosed, smells stay inside and everything breaks down faster. After a few weeks, the waste turns into soil conditioner that can be used to help plants grow. It is then used on local farms, and you can also buy it from local Household Waste Recycling Sites (tip) in East Sussex called Pro-Grow.
This has been a total waste of public funds…Has any thought for wildlife been taken into consideration, most of my friends put food waste out for foxes and badgers if the were to stop many of these families will die during the winter months. The bird population will also be affected as they were during lockdown.
And the rats and Herring Gulls
With two dogs in the family – they eat anything – and a small compost heap, no bins are needed here – a waste of money indeed.
I tried to cancel my food waste bin unsuccessfully as I do not have any food waste! But was answered by having no bin delivered. On my multifuell stove in winter I had a stock pot and othe veggie discards add to the compost bin. There seems to have been no discussion as to the necessity of this service which seems a total waste of our money!? Also the morality of there being foddwaste when half the world is starving is another very important question!? Comments please!
Here in Fairlight chaos rules with this project.
We have Southern Water renewing our mains water pipes that has resulted in closed or semi-closed roads but with well signed diversions.
It seems that the Biffa operatives have decided to lose the ability to read diversion signs and, instead, sit on one of our benches, have a nice lunch, before going home early.
The first two scheduled collections from my house have been missed and several assurances of follow-up collections from Rother’s “customer service” not carried out.
Of course Biffa have turned off the “missed bin” reporting facility for food waste on Rother’s website so there will be no record of their failures.
One must agree with Margot, why have we been forced to have these food waste bins, when some of us bought compositers off Rother District Council years ago, one thing I find it handy for,using as a cat litter bin,for our indoor cat.
Why are we peeling potatoes or any vegetable when it is well known that most of the goodnes if just under the skin?