New bin regime needs 70 new staff, say councils

Seventy new members of staff are being brought in to implement food waste collections across parts of a county.

Since January, more than 48,000 homes in the Greater Cambridge area have had weekly collections, with more than 400 tonnes of food waste gathered so far.

Greater Cambridge Shared Waste said the "next wave" was starting this week in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

Bode Esan, from the partnership, said: "We're recruiting 70 new team members to carry out the new weekly food waste collections, so delivering the caddies before their rounds begin is a great way for new staff to get to know the area."

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has said "every household in England" would get weekly food waste collections, although many councils failed to meet the initial 31 March deadline.

Esan said: "Before this [food caddy] service was introduced, 88% of household food waste in our area was being put into black bins to be landfilled.

"This meant methane was given off which is a very potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

"Just by using your caddy you prevent that pollution."

The collected waste is taken to anaerobic digestion plants where the biogas given off by the decomposing food is captured and used to generate power.

When fully broken down, the food becomes biofertiliser, which can be spread on farmland.

Esan added: "Most households which now have the new service are using it, which is really encouraging.

"No amount is too small – even one banana skin could charge two smartphones."

All households in Greater Cambridge are expected to have weekly food waste collections by the end of 2026.

The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service is a partnership between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

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