A food waste recycling trial is being introduced in Northumberland this month, as the council continues its drive to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. 
 

The county council is introducing a new pilot scheme, collecting the weekly food waste from around 4,500 households across four areas within the county. 
 
The trial will help the council assess the financial, environmental and operational impacts of providing a recycling collection service for food waste, to see if it can extend the service across the rest of the county, as well as get feedback from residents and refine the service. 
 

The trial area includes parts of Morpeth, Bedlington, Pegswood and some of the nearby villages, with these areas being selected as they offer a cross-section of different households and property types in the county and are also close to the collection operations base in Morpeth. 
 

Two of the areas selected to receive kerbside food waste collection are already involved in the kerbside Glass Recycling trial, which is being extended for a further 18 months. 
 

Early results for glass recycling are good, with strong average yields and take up rates that will help the council to work out how best to expand a range of new recycling services to improve the county’s overall recycling performance. 
 

And in more rural areas the council is running a home hot composting trial in three locations – Chatton, Elsdon and Gilsland - to look at how it can work with local householders to enable them to play their part in wider recycling initiatives.  
 

Participating residents have been given a free home hot composter where they can compost both garden and food waste. The trials started in the autumn, and the council will be seeking feedback from residents to determine the feasibility of the scheme. 
 

Council Leader Glen Sanderson, who is also the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “In recent years the council has reduced its carbon emissions by a third and the area is now ranked as one of the greenest in the country.  
 

However, we acknowledge we have a significant role to play in both further reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging residents, businesses and other organisations to take action to cut their own carbon footprint.  
 

“Recycling more is something we can all do, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of our new food waste trial once it gets underway. 

“Initial results from our glass trial have been very positive and we’re extending its duration so we can gather more data to see how best we can roll it out further.”