A NEW food waste recycling scheme will be rolled out in Bournemouth to help boost the town’s impressive recycling rates.

The town already has one of the best recycling rates in the country, sending just 19 per cent of waste to landfill.

And now the council has secured a £7.1m government grant to introduce a food waste recycling service that residents will be encouraged – but not forced – to join.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member with responsibility for technical services, said: “The message to residents is, we’re carrying on with our excellent service but it’s going to get better.

“I want to thank residents for all their help in making us such a top performing authority and stress that the weekly collection of our residual waste will continue as before. As far ahead as we can see it will stay weekly. That’s Bournemouth’s policy and we’re proud of it.”

Residents that do want to take part will be provided with a new container that slots into their existing little bin, a kitchen caddy and compostable caddy liners.

Food waste is the largest category of waste in Bournemouth’s residual stream, making up 38 per cent of the current little bins. It’s claimed that collecting and treating food waste separately will significantly enhance the quality of the end product compost produced and will deliver cashable benefits of around £4.9m over five years.

Cllr John Beesley, leader of the council, said this government grant, together with a separate one for £14.2m to build a materials recovery facility, proved that the Government believed Bournemouth was a good place to do business.

“I have every confidence that, like the other areas of recycling, they will deliver and deliver very well for the residents of Bournemouth and keep us at the very top nationally in terms of recycling,” he said.