Southwark food waste pilot awarded money to get more residents involved

The six month project, which was launched last October involving 10,000 homes across Southwark, has now secured nearly £20,000 from a national Government-backed agency.   

The aim of the food waste pilot is to reduce food waste going to landfill, as well as boost recycling rates, and the council has placed communicating with residents at the heart of the trial.  

The £18,500 from the Government-backed recycling agency WRAP is designed to collect as much feedback from residents as possible whilst helping to maximise residents' involvement in the pilot through a range of communications techniques.  

The money will cover:

• Surveying work to remind residents to recycle and find out what they think about the scheme
• Mobile advertising and bin stickers to help raise awareness and encourage residents to give their feedback
• A series of live chat events that encourage members of the public to share their views in an open and informal discussion.  

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said:  

"While many of us are aware of the importance of recycling and reducing the impact on landfill, we can never take it for granted that this message has got through to everyone, and we're constantly trying to find ways to engage more and more people. This money will really help us find out what does and doesn't work when it comes to promoting recycling, and I look forward to seeing the results."  

The project is being carried out by the council and its waste and recycling contractor Veolia Environmental Services.  

Their managing director is Simon Bussell. He added:  

"We have been really pleased with the increase in recycling that we have seen in the pilot area. It is vital that we find out as much as possible about how residents are responding to services so that we can make sure that this success continues, both for the pilot and for future improvements to recycling and waste services across the borough."  

Have your say

Come along to our live chat events and tell us what you think. 

• Friday 14 January 11am to 1pm; Café Prov, 2 -6 Half Moon Lane, SE24 9HU
• Saturday 15 January 12pm to 2pm; East Dulwich Tavern, 1 Lordship Lane, SE21 8EW
• Friday 21 January 2.30pm to 4.30pm; Café on the Rye , Peckham Rye Park , SE15 3UA
• Saturday 22 January 11am to 1pm; Nunhead Library, Gordon Road, SE15 3RW
• Thursday 20 January 6pm to 8pm; Surrey Quays shopping centre, SE16 7LL  

All residents on the pilot scheme also have the opportunity to feedback their comments by filling out a survey online.  

Further details

The authority is working in partnership with waste and recycling contractors Veolia Environmental Services to reduce the costly and environmentally damaging practice of sending waste, that could be recycled, to landfill.

The six month pilot started in October in wards in Dulwich, Camberwell, Nunhead, Peckham and Rotherhithe. Early indicators from the trial suggested that recycling rates from the homes on the pilot had increased to around 50%.