Weekly food waste collections set to start

Brighton & Hove City Council is trying to boost its "historically low" recycling rates by removing food waste from general refuse

The first food waste collection service for Brighton and Hove is to begin in the east of the city.

Residents in Saltdean, Rottingdean, Ovingdean, Woodingdean and Brighton Marina have already been sent starter packs ahead of the launch on Monday.

The packs included a kitchen caddy, compostable caddy liners, a how-to guide, and either an outdoor caddy with an orange lid or, for some blocks of flats, access to a shared food waste bin.

In May, Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) announced it was investing £1.2m to try to boost its "historically low" recycling rates by removing food waste from general refuse.

The new service will allow residents to recycle all unpackaged, uncooked and cooked food – but no liquids.

Kerbside collections will be made weekly, while communal food waste would be collected every day under the proposals.

However, some people have expressed concerns that the new waste service could lead to additional smells and more traffic.

But councillor Tim Rowkins, cabinet member for net zero and environmental services, said that the waste would be stored in sealed containers and removed in 24 hours, meaning fewer odours and fewer vehicles.

It will then be turned into compost for use in and around the city.

The first of four stages in the city's rollout, another 29,500 households in the north of the city will receive the free food waste service in October.

This will be followed by another 31,500 homes in the west of the city in November, and 76,000 in central and communal areas by March 2026.

Mr Rowkins added the scheme would be "good for the environment, turning waste into a resource and saving money on waste disposal costs".

About a third of household rubbish in Brighton and Hove is food and drink waste, approximately 2.8kg (6.17lbs) per household each week, according to the council.