Bins delivered to thousands of Shropshire homes ahead of recycling change

The caddies, which are designed to be used for all types of food waste, have been sent out as part of new recycling arrangements unveiled by Shropshire Council and its partner Veolia.

The first kerbside collections of food waste in the two areas will take place on Monday.

Food caddies are for unwanted cooked or raw food, including fruit and vegetable peelings, left-overs, egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds.

Contents of the bins can be added to the contents of the large green garden waste bins and will be emptied every two weeks.

The council and Veolia have also provided caddy liners, replacements for which can be bought online.

The roll-out of food caddies has been backed by a mayor and residents.

Steve Mitchell, spokesman for Veolia, said: "Residents across the Shrewsbury and south Shropshire areas of the county have been delivered a kitchen caddy so that they can recycle their food waste.

"We spoke to over 100 residents at a roadshow in the Square last week and residents said that the kitchen caddies are a great addition to the recycling service in Shropshire.

"The collection of food waste – within the garden bin, starts on Monday and we are looking forward to seeing the take up of the service."

Councillor Miles Kenny, mayor of Shrewsbury, said: "I think this is a great idea and I will use them. I already compost at home. It is certainly a step in the right direction."

Resident Joanna Miles, 72, who lives in Castlefields in Shrewsbury, said: "I think the food caddies are a really good idea. They certainly help to cut down the amount of rubbish going to land fill sites. I put everything in them from tea bags, to carrot peelings and waste left over from teatime. I was surprised to see that uncooked food and meat could also be put in them but that so much can be recycled is great.

"I'm really glad that this is being rolled out across the whole of Shropshire."

North Shropshire residents already use kitchen caddies.

Residents in the former Bridgnorth and Oswestry districts will receive the new food waste collection service once a new high-tech in-vessel composting facility designed to serve the area is built. It is expected that a planning application will be submitted this year with a view to the facility becoming operational in 2018.

For more information on what can be recycled go to new.shropshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-rubbish/new-kerbside-collection-service-faqs/