Study looks at innovative ways to tackle food waste

An exciting new national study has been launched in Shrewsbury as part of the Local Government Association’s Waste Innovation Programme.  The project will investigate the impact of Food Waste Disposers (FWD), which are being fitted in all the homes in the new David Wilson Homes development, Riverside Meadows.

As Philippa Roberts, Managing Director from Low and Behold, who are managing the project on behalf of the LGA, explained:

“Waste water treatment works use anaerobic digestion to process their sewage.  This is the same technology that is used to process food waste; producing renewable energy in the process.  By allowing the householders at Riverside Meadows to put their food waste down their sinks, we are hoping to see a cost saving for Shropshire Council.” 

She explained:-

“Much of the project monitoring and evaluation will be involve the sewer network and waste water treatment works, so the impacts on the sewer network and any cost implications of this are a critical element of the pilot project.

Councillor Peter Fleming, the Chair of the LGA Improvement Board who funded this project, said:

“Local government has long been recognised as the most efficient part of the public sector. But at a time of immense budget pressure – and with the prospect of further severe funding cuts at the next spending review – councils face their greatest challenge yet to reshape services in a way that meets the needs of local residents, while operating within the new financial realities.  This is why exploring innovative solutions to waste management is crucial.  By exploring new ways of dealing with waste we open the door to vast potential savings.”

The Waste Innovation Programme will trial the use of Food Waste Disposers in kitchen sinks; these will enable householders to send their food waste for anaerobic digestion without the need for it to be collected.  As well as making it simple for the residents to minimise what ends up in the bin, this will help produce renewable energy, reduce waste to landfill, whilst also opening up potentially huge savings for local councils.

John Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member responsible for waste, was enthusiastic about the project:

“It costs Shropshire Council millions of pounds each year to dispose of household waste.  Around a fifth of all household waste is food waste, and so we are keen to do all we can to reduce this.  By keeping waste out of landfill, this technology could deliver considerable cost savings to the council.” 

The project will start monitoring the impact of FWD in the New Year, once the first homeowners have moved into their new properties.  The project will run for 12 months, funded by the LGA, but there are discussions underway with the wider water industry to continue this for longer.