Food waste a target for recycling

Households in the UK waste 3.3m tonnes of food a year

Food waste is to be targeted for collection and processing in a pilot scheme proposed by an Oxfordshire council.

Cherwell District Council aims to increase recycling by processing food waste which it said currently makes up 45% of the district's landfill.

Residents would be asked to add food waste to the brown bins currently only used for collecting garden waste.

The scheme would cost an estimated £250,000 a year.

Possible delays

A Cherwell District Council spokeswoman said the proposals to go before the council would be for a "food waste processing scheme where food waste is collected fortnightly with garden waste in the brown bin".

But the scheme could be delayed by the lack of a county food composting facility.

A district council environmental select committee report in March said the area would not generate enough waste to make a dedicated food composting facility a "viable option".

The nearest food composting facility is in High Wycombe, Bucks, although Oxfordshire County Council said it was prepared to tender for a facility.

The pilot scheme, which has been recommended for approval, will be considered by the council executive on Monday 14 May.

The council has also recommended a "sustained media briefing and public education campaign" to prevent "adverse reactions to the scheme".