Why it's important:
Food waste is a significant contributor to green house gas
emissions; there were an estimated 7.3 million tonnes of household
food waste produced in the UK in 2015, a figure that has steadily
been increasing with time.
Poole, with its 150,600 inhabitants, produces an average of 16,958
tonnes of household food waste a year - this equates to over 37,300
kg of green house gas emissions a year. That's the equivalent of 20
return flights from London to New York.
How it can be implemented:
Both Christchurch and Bournemouth councils offer food waste
collection. Given the councils have merged to form the greater BCP
Council, extending the existing infrastructure for this service
should be straight forward. Additionally, Piddlehinton anaerobic
waste processing centre has capacity for additional food waste
which it uses to generate bio gas which it feeds back to the grid.
Further to this, the plant has experienced a significant decline in
waste received due to the closure of bars and restaurants during
the lock down so it is currently underperforming.
This is a prime opportunity where there is both means and
appetite.
I strongly urge you to make place for this simple yet highly
effective step in the upcoming Q3 budget discussions.
This ePetition ran from 24/07/2020 to 09/09/2020 and has now finished.
33 people signed this ePetition.