Do you recycle your food waste?

South Ayrshire Council is asking residents to give the environment a boost by recycling their food waste.

We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who uses their silver food waste caddy. However, currently only 30% of South Ayrshire households are taking part, so there's room for improvement!

Food waste which goes in your green bin, or your green lidded bin, is sent to landfill. When food waste breaks down it gives off methane gas, which contributes to climate change.

The food waste you put in your caddy goes to a processing plant, where it's shredded, and heat treated. It can then generate energy or be used to produce agricultural fertilisers.

The cost of sending food waste to landfill is more expensive than the costs involved in sending it to a processing plant.

Tea bags, eggshells, banana skins, and even bones, can go in your food waste caddy - it all counts, even in small amounts.

You should already have a 23-litre and a 7-litre caddy. Your 7-litre caddy is lined with a food waste bag and can be kept in your home. When sufficiently full, you can tie this bag off and place it in your 23-litre caddy which we'll empty every week from the kerbside.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, Buildings, Housing and Environment Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: "It's great that residents are using their food caddies, but we're keen to divert more waste away from landfill.  It's always better to reduce waste, but some food waste is unavoidable, so I would encourage households to use their food waste caddies and help protect South Ayrshire for future generations."

To find out exactly what can go in your food waste caddy, or to request a caddy visit www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/food-waste You can also call 0300 123 0900. Liners for the 7-litre caddy are available in Council libraries throughout South Ayrshire at a cost of £2 per roll. Liners are also available in many supermarkets