Flintshire residents urged to step up food waste recycling efforts

Wales is renowned for its commitment to the environment, and its latest initiative proves this once again.

The country is making an effort to become the number one recycling nation in the world, and it’s all thanks to its partnership with Wales Recycles.

Residents are being encouraged to increase their efforts in food waste recycling, as only 95% of citizens are known to recycle waste, making Wales the third best recycling nation in the world.

Flintshire, in particular, is facing a food waste problem, with around a third of the general rubbish being food waste, all of which could be recycled.

This wasted food waste is a shame, as it has the potential to generate green energy. Last year, Welsh residents recycled enough food waste to power over 10,000 homes, but with 100,000 tonnes of food waste ending up in the general rubbish bin, the equivalent of 7,500 homes could be powered.

Cllr Dave Hughes, Flintshire’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and the regional transport strategy, stated, “We all produce some amount of unavoidable food waste – such as eggshells, bones, teabags and peelings – which should be recycled (if not composted at home) to generate green energy to help power communities in Wales.”

The biggest barrier to food waste recycling is the ‘yuck factor’, but residents are reminded that recycling food waste is more hygienic and reduces smells compared to placing it in the general rubbish.

Wales Recycles has 5 tips to help citizens recycle their food waste correctly, including using a caddy liner, avoiding liquid items, emptying the caddy regularly, keeping a lid on it, and keeping the caddy clean.

Follow Wales Recycles’ 5 handy tips:

1. Use a caddy liner – Lining your kitchen caddy will keep your food waste contained, helping to reduce smells and spills, and preventing it from getting mucky. Apply liners to a clean, dry caddy, and ensure you don’t overfill them to avoid splitting.
2. Avoid liquid items – Keep liquids such as milk, juice, or cooking oil out of your caddy to prevent ‘bin juice’ from collecting at the bottom. You may pour small amounts of these items down the sink, ideally alongside a small amount of water to ensure the waste runs away easily, without causing blockages.
3. Empty your food waste caddy regularly – Empty the contents of your kitchen caddy into your outdoor food waste bin regularly, before it gets too full, to prevent smells and odours. Remember to tie caddy liners tightly before moving them from your caddy to your bin. Should your caddy start to smell, then it’s time to empty its contents into your outdoor food waste bin and start afresh with a new liner.
4. Keep a lid on it – It may seem obvious but closing the lid of your kitchen caddy will stop flies getting in, and odours getting out. Don’t forget to also close the lockable lid on your outdoor bin securely, to prevent pests and safeguard against windy weather.
5. Keep your caddy clean – Clean your kitchen caddy every few weeks. Give it a rinse in the sink. For a more thorough clean, disinfect your caddy with leftover hot water from your kettle and some washing up liquid.

If you’ve got a leftover lemon that will otherwise be uneaten, you could run its flesh against the inside of your bin. It’s a natural odour remover and will help to kill any germs that might be lurking.

To find out more tips and hacks and discover how your food waste creates power visit Wales Recycles and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BeMightyRecycle.