Weekly food waste collections are now being introduced to help the councils improve their recycling rates as well as to comply with the government’s simpler recycling scheme, which was introduced to create consistency in the way recycling, food waste and garden waste are collected across the country. 

The scheme requires all councils to provide a curbside food waste collection for businesses and other non domestic premises by 31st March 2025 and for all households by 31st March 2026.

In March this year the councils wrote to the government to request a review of the funding allocated, as the amount provided was estimated to fall short of what is needed to implement a full service by £900,000. 

Although the councils have since been awarded an additional £227,000, the total provided still doesn’t cover the implementation or ongoing running costs of the new service, or the work at the councils’ depots needed for the project.

Until sufficient government funding is made available or other funding is identified, the councils will phase the roll-out of the service, prioritising areas with the most homes.

Households with a curbside collection will receive a seven-litre caddy to use in the kitchen and a 23-litre food waste caddy to place out on collection day. Food waste will be collected weekly. Refuse and recycling will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Residents living in blocks of flats will also receive a caddy to use in their kitchen. They will be able to use new 140-litre food waste bins that will be placed in communal stores and collected weekly. The collected food waste will be transferred to West Sussex County Council. 

The councils will need ten new 7.5 tonne vehicles to deliver the service that will include the purchase of  two electric vehicles. This approach will enable the councils to test electric vehicle technology and provide time to make changes to depot and vehicle workshop infrastructure needed to accommodate the new technology. 

Before the weekly food waste service is introduced, the councils will use software to develop more efficient refuse and recycling collection routes. 

Residents will continue to be able to use the councils’ website to check their bin collection day as well as to sign up for reminders to put their bin out by downloading the free smartphone app.

Cllr Jude Harvey, Adur’s cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said: “Alongside our initiatives to prevent waste in the first place, the introduction of a weekly food waste service will go a long way towards reducing the amount of food that ends up in landfill, and will help us boost our recycling rates.” 

Cllr Vicki Wells, Worthing’s cabinet member for  environmental services, said: “Food waste collections have been a priority for residents and the administration for over two years.  Although the council has secured enough funding for a phased service, I am very disappointed that we can’t afford to roll out the scheme in its entirety. I will continue pressing for increased community composting schemes to follow the success at Victoria Park and also press for alternative fuelled vehicles, ensuring we future proof our waste fleet for the environment.”