West Sussex’s first food waste collection trial due to start

Arun District Council has announced it is piloting weekly food waste and absorbent hygiene product collections for around 1,150 properties in Littlehampton.

The trial is being run in partnership with West Sussex County Council and will help to inform any future redesign of waste services elsewhere and the likely wider rollout of food waste collections.

A trial of a new 1-2-3 collection system is set to begin on Wednesday, May 19.

This involves:

1 - Weekly food waste collections and an optional, free subscription service of absorbent hygiene product collections such as nappies and incontinence waste.

2 - Existing fortnightly recycling collections and garden waste (charged, subscription service) continue. Small electrical items will also be collected fortnightly from kerbside properties.

3 - General rubbish in new 240litre wheelie bins would be picked up every three weeks.

All residents who have been selected to participate and receive kerbside collections, will be given free bins, including a lockable food waste recycling bin and a handy kitchen caddy.

They will also be supplied with a new 240l wheelie bin for their rubbish if they do not already have one.

Residents who live in flats will be supplied with a free kitchen caddy and their bin stores will be upgraded to collect food waste and AHPs.

Households chosen to take part in the trial will be notified by post over the next few days.

They will also receive a starter pack, including an information booklet about what to do, approximately three months’ supply of biodegradable liners and a collection calendar before the trial starts.

The main trial area will be within the Courtwick and Toddington ward, comprising approximately 1,150 properties north of the A259, including the new Kingley Gate development, kerbside properties and a number of flats.

A small number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy properties within the River ward will also be included within the trial. Collections there will start in September following a review of the initial trial rollout.

The council is conducting the trial in partnership with West Sussex County Council.

Samantha-Jayne Staniforth, Arun’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “We are really excited to see the introduction of this trial. We have looked at the results of the waste composition analysis and feel we have selected an area that is representative of the district.

“The analysis showed us that food waste makes up approximately 42 per cent of the rubbish currently put out for collection, the areas selected will provide us with an accurate picture of how much food waste and (AHP) we can divert away from being processed as waste.

“The trial areas will contain a good mix of property types, including a small number of flats and HMOs, to test different operational arrangements and communications, so that we can make this a real positive and productive experience for all involved.”

West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for environment Deborah Urquhart added: “This 1-2-3 trial is the first of its type to take place in West Sussex. Our aim is to gain valuable feedback from residents throughout enabling a full review to assist in re-shaping and enhancing rubbish and recycling collections for the district and across the county in the future.

“This will help Arun increase recycling rates and West Sussex to meet, and hopefully continue to exceed, the Government’s target to increase recycling rates up to 55 per cent by 2025 and 65 per cent by 2035.”

For more information visit www.arun.gov.uk/123-collection-trial