Do not overfill food bins says council

People are being warned about overfilling their food waste caddies

People have been advised on how to prevent food waste liners splitting as more collections are introduced across Hampshire.

Test Valley Borough Council said weekly food waste collections would begin this week so residents could recycle meat, fruit and vegetables and tea bags.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council introduced food waste collections last week and said it had already received reports that liners used in the caddies were splitting.

In a post on social media the council said this could be avoided if people made sure they did not overfill the liners or fill them with liquids or oil.

"The liners provided are biodegradable and designed to break down when wet," the post explained.

The council advised residents to change their caddy liners regularly, not overfill them and avoid putting food in them that was still hot.

It also said alternative liners such as plastic bread bags or fruit and veg bags could always be used instead.

In Test Valley, food caddies should now be left at the kerbside by 07:00 BST on collection day. The food waste will then be taken to a local anaerobic digester and turned into renewable energy and fertiliser.

Councillor David Drew said: "Food waste makes up to a third of what's thrown away in the black bins, and this new service gives residents a simple way to recycle it instead".