Ludlow businesses are keen to go green, with the help of South Shropshire District Council’s free food waste collection service, the first of its kind in the country.
From Monday, the council will collect food waste for a biodigester from shops and restaurants in the town, three times a week.
Jackie White, Head chef at Ego Café Bar, told the Journal: “Ego is going eco friendly. It’s something we wanted to do. The district council supplies the bins and it means we can cut down on Biffa bins. If everybody does it, it will be really good.
“It will save us £35 a week because we will have Biffa once a week instead of twice. We won’t have to buy so many black bags as the council supplies the bags for the food waste bins.
“If everybody does it, it will save space in landfill.” She added: “Because they take the food away on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we won’t get any vermin. They’re supplying locks as well so nothing else can be put in the bins, it’s one up for the council.”
Peter Cook, chairman of Ludlow’s Chamber of Trade, said: “This is an excellent initiative. Not only is it an environmentally-sound way of dealing with waste, it also saves businesses money.
“Ludlow Chamber of Trade is in full support,” added Mr Cook who runs Price’s Bakers in the Town.
Special blue wheelie bins have been issued to 60 food businesses in and around Ludlow.
The food waste will be collected by a vehicle powered by biodiesel and provided by the Cwm Harry Land Trust, which already travels regularly to Ludlow taking food waste to the biodigester on Coder Road.
The trust also operates a used cooking oil collection service that provides the raw material for making biodiesel, which powers the Trust’s collection vehicles.
The collected waste will be converted into sterile solid and liquid soil conditioners, heat and electricity.
Nick Barclay, the district council’s lead member for the environment said: “Businesses in the food industry have shown great support for the scheme.
“It is the first commercial waste collection service of its kind in the country.
“Each participating business is helping to lessen its environmental impact by diverting food waste away from landfill and towards a more eco-friendly option.
“We have supplied 60 businesses with an information leaflet, a supply of compostable bags, and a blue wheelie bin of an appropriate size.”
Any food business in and around Ludlow that is not already part of the free collection service and would like to be find out more should contact Tina Middleton, SSDC’s Commercial Food Waste Officer on 01584 813393.
