Food waste collections to launch in September

Adur & Worthing councils will start a phased roll-out of weekly food waste collections from next month.

The additional weekly collections are being introduced as part of the government's Simpler Recycling programme to boost recycling rates and benefit the environment.

Households in Adur and Worthing will begin receiving two new containers for recycling food waste, which will be collected in the county and recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser used by local farmers.

Councillor Andrew Harvey, Adur's cabinet member for environment, said: "Once collections start, your food waste recycling bin will always be emptied no matter how little it contains."

Along with the new containers, residents will get a leaflet explaining how to use the new service as well as a roll of compostable liners.

Food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as either recycling or general waste bins, before being taken to a processing plant near Horsham, operated on behalf of West Sussex County Council.

Residents will be given more information about the new service closer to the time of rollout, including the date that collections will start for each address.

Councillor Martin McCabe, Worthing's cabinet member for environment, said: "Food waste collections have already proved successful in other areas of West Sussex, and I'm sure Worthing residents will embrace this new service too.

"Research has shown that when we separate our waste and see how much we throw away, we often end up changing our habits and wasting less in the long-run."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.