The collection of food waste from homes and businesses could soon become part of the weekly waste collection service in South Kesteven.

The move follows 'successful' trials of 4,000 homes across the district, which SKDC hopes to make permanent across its 80,000 business and residential premises.

Cabinet member for Commercial and Operations, Coun Dr Peter Moseley, told Nub News: "For me as a portfolio holder, this is the biggest, most challenging issue.

"We have had a two year trial that has been overwhelmingly successful. The people who participated really enjoyed and we received so many compliments over it."

SKDC would like to make such a service permanent for all the district's homes. It had expected central government might have introduced legislation mandating such a service, but even though it has consulted with councils on this, it has yet to move forward with legislation.

Coun Moseley (Con-Aveland) continued: "Separating out food waste promotes the real message about recycling and reducing waste; its something we can all do. It makes people think about the waste that they are generating."

The initial food waste trial was funded by Lincolnshire County but that has now ended.

"We as a council has made a commitment to see that trial ongoing. The challenge is more is to see how it can make it happen and extend it to residents. My ambition is that we can separate food waste from every home across the district. It's a challenge to win, there's a lot of work to do."

Coun Moseley says he would need support from the county council and other partners, such as Anaerobic Plant operators.

"I hope that we can do that and deliver. I can't give a time-frame. I hope to see some progress in a year. I do not want people to think its not at the top of my list. The challenge is getting it rolled out across the district."

The national waste organisation WRAP estimates that to do so, would cost SKDC £1.6M, something that is prohibitively expensive, especially as the council gets to grips with worsened financial realities due to the pandemic.

Coun Moseley added: "I want it cost neutral. I am working to make it cost neutral. That's why we have to build relationships, get an agreement with Lincolnshire County Council and get private commercial partners involved."

"I think we can do it as a cost neutral exercise for SKDC. That highlights the depth of the challenge and the breadth of the ambition."

*This is the first in a series of waste and environmental- related articles Nub News is running to mark Recycle Week 2020, which began today.