Recycling drive: Council to introduce commercial food waste collection service

“The new Food Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 will require food businesses producing greater than 5kg of food waste per week, to secure the separate collection of that waste,” a council spokesperson explained. “As a result, the council is offering its commercial waste customers in the Newtownabbey area of the borough a new food only collection service, similar to the one already operational in the Antrim area. It is envisaged that the service will commence in May 2016 and it will be compulsory for all businesses creating food waste.

“The council is currently advising businesses of the new weekly collection service, which should help to boost the borough’s recycling rate.”

The council has confirmed that there will be no additional cost to businesses for the food waste service. However, it has stressed that “all commercial waste collection costs are reviewed on an annual basis.”