Make sure you use your food waste bin!

Both Islington and Haringey councils have recently started rolling out Food Waste collections and are keen to make sure that residents understand how to use their new bins. Meat, fish, teabags, coffee grounds and scrap food from plates can all

be recycled, as well as vegetables, fruit and even old pasta and rice. 

Last year (2009/2010) more than 3,000 tons of food waste were collected

in Islington and turned into compost, for use in the borough's parks

and gardens. Compost costs less per ton than landfill, so you're also doing the economy a favour by using food waste bins, as well as the environment.

Properties where food waste collections take place receive a brown (Islington) or black (Haringey) food waste caddy for their kitchen,

and an outdoor bin which they can empty it into - Islington has a brown bin and Haringey a green box. Make sure you line your food waste bin with compostable liners, not plastic bags - food waste in plastic bags will not be composted.

Food waste is collected on the same day as other recycling, and taken to a special industiral composter and then used to improve soil in local parks. Islington Council's Cllr Paul Smith says,"We'd like to help everyone to get

involved. Recycling food waste helps save our community valuable money to spend

on vital services, and makes great compost we can use to keep our parks

and gardens green."

Meat and fish can be composted as well as vegetable matter - but do remember to remove bones first, as well as any food packaging. Don't include cooking oil, pet food or animal bedding in your food waste recycling either. Bread, cheese, fruit and veg, eggs, tea and coffee are all welcome.

For more information on food waste recycling in Islington please visit www.islington.gov.uk/foodwaste or call 020 7527 2000. In Haringey call 020 8885 7700 or email haringey.enterprise@enterprise.plc.uk.