Of the UK local governments in that collect trash, about one-fourth now separate food waste for composting or other uses.
Food recycling programs have really taken off in the last year and high participation rates have only helped. When food waste collection is available, two-thirds of the households participate.
What does that look like? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at food waste composting at a Gloucestershire facility.
Last week, Britain’s Local Government Association said the programs should be expanded nationwide. With food waste collection going so well, why not?
Here in the U.S., we have some catching up to do. Can you imagine representatives at this week’s National Governor’s Association meetings recommending household food waste collection? Me neither.
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How do you get programs like that started in your area? We compost at home, and since beginning our own compost bin, I’ve been amazed at how much we compost, especially the unavoidable cores, rinds, peels. There’s all this talk about overflowing landfills, yet the obvious solutions haven’t been put into action.
Household food waste collection is something that takes some momentum to get started. Getting an elected official to champion the idea can’t hurt.
But more likely scenario is that you have a groundswell of popular support/interest and a municipality that will at least consider it. I suppose it could work the other way around, but no politician is going to pitch the idea if he/she thinks their constituents won’t support it.
Any Seattle readers want to chime in on how they managed to make door-to-door food waste collection a reality?