Bryson Recycling, in partnership with Castlereagh Borough Council, has launched a new food waste recycling service as part of its drive to prevent tonnes of unnecessary waste being sent to landfill.

The latest addition to the company’s kerbside box collection service has made food waste recycling available on a trial basis to more than 1,100 households in the Castlereagh Borough Council area.

At present food waste accounts for around 20% of the contents of the average household bin in Northern Ireland and if sent to landfill will generate harmful greenhouse gases as it decomposes. Under Bryson’s scheme all food waste collected from households will go to produce compost for use in landscaping, agriculture and horticulture. 

Announcing the new initiative, Eric Randall, Director of Bryson Recycling, commented:

“We are confident that this new service will provide householders with an easy way of recycling their food waste from home which will not only boost recycling figures but help to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill. We also think that having this material collected on a weekly basis will be welcomed by householders.

The two-box recycling service currently operating in Castlereagh is the best performing kerbside collection service in the whole of Northern Ireland, and I hope that households in the area will build on the valuable contribution they make to recycling here by taking advantage of the opportunity to dispose of food in a convenient and environmentally friendly way.”

Councillor Gareth Robinson, Chair of Castlereagh Borough Council’s Technical and Environmental Services Committee, added:

“The Council has been working with Bryson Recycling for around 9 years now, providing a kerbie box service to around 16,000 households.  The new two-box service has been in operation for just over a year and I am pleased to say that householders have embraced the new service, which has resulted in an 18% increase in kerbside recycling.

The food waste trial will provide the Council with valuable information for planning services for the future and will make a positive contribution to the Council’s waste diversion targets.  Initial results are extremely encouraging with a high number of households using the service. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those householders on the trial for participating and would strongly encourage them to continue to do so.”

Bryson has supplied each home included in the food waste recycling service with an outside collection bin, a caddy for collecting food waste in the kitchen and a supply of biodegradable liners. Food waste bins will be emptied on a weekly basis on the same day as the kerbside boxes. All food waste can be recycled through the service including both raw and cooked food waste such as meat, fish, diary products, fruit, vegetables, breads, cakes, pastries, rice, pasta, beans, tea bags, coffee grounds and leftover food from plates and dishes.