Witney News - Council pledges food waste reduction target

Witney - A view from Church Green

Advertisements

Council pledges food waste reduction target

West Oxfordshire District Council has signed up to the Courtauld Commitment, a pledge to cut food and drink waste by 20 per cent before 2025.

The Courtauld Commitment 2025 is a voluntary agreement launched by the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP).

It brings together organisations across the food system from producer to consumer to food waste disposal.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: "Food waste in West Oxfordshire is collected weekly and recycled locally. Although it is a popular service there is room for improvement as many food items are still being thrown into the general rubbish bin. Reducing waste is a priority for us, which is why we are more than happy to sign up to the Courtauld 2025 Commitment. It underlines and supports the excellent work the District Council is already doing."

Recent initiatives undertaken by the Council to improve food waste recycling rates include social media advertising and a doorstep campaign to promote recycling and composting. These campaigns relate directly to the objectives of the Courtauld Commitment.

Food waste recycling was introduced in West Oxfordshire in 2010. Householders are provided with a free kitchen caddy and outdoor bin. After collection it is taken to an anaerobic digestion plant in Cassington where it is recycled into a liquid fertiliser called 'digestive' for use on local farmland and renewable electricity is generated as a by-product during the process.

The Cassington plant processes food waste from across Oxfordshire and creates fertiliser for local farmers to use, along with enough electricity to power 4,000 homes on an on-going basis.

Richard Swannell, Director of Sustainable Food Systems at WRAP said: "Courtauld 2025 is our most ambitious agreement yet and we are delighted that West Oxfordshire District Council has pledged its support as a signatory.

"We are faced with some big challenges ahead with rising populations, climate change and dwindling resources. But tackling food waste offers a practical option to address these challenges and in doing so, will create new opportunities. Only by working together can we hope to realise the big changes that are essential to ensuring a more prosperous future for individuals, businesses and the planet."

Posted : 16/08/2016 18:07:09

Other recent Witney news items posted on the Witney website


Ultrafast broadband delivered to more than 10,000 properties in the District

More than 10,000 rural homes and businesses in West Oxfordshire now have access to ultrafast full-fibre internet, providing them with some of the fastest broadband speeds in the world. This milesto...


Residents and businesses urged to be patient as Covid-19 test centre is built in Witney

An NHS Covid-19 testing centre is to be built in Witney to improve support for residents. The building will be situated in the Woodford Way car park and is expected to remain for at least three mon...


Oxfordshire close to 'high' COVID-19 alert level

Residents are being advised to be extra vigilant, particularly over half-term, as cases of coronavirus continue to spread across the county. Evidence shows that, in the past two weeks, the virus ha...


West Oxfordshire Gym Data Reveals the Numbers of Locals that Returned to the Gym after lockdown

Better, the largest operator of municipal leisure facilities in the UK releases gym usage data since reopening: West Oxfordshire has seen a total of 20537 visits to their local gyms 26-34-year old...


View the full Witney Blog