Havant Borough Council’s cabinet yesterday (Wednesday 4 June) agreed to introduce a new weekly food waste kerbside collection service for households across the borough, starting in Spring next year.

The decision follows Central Government’s changes to the Environmental Act 2021, to reduce food waste, improve recycling rates, and help tackle climate change.

The roll out of a food waste collection service will begin from 31 March 2026, with the assistance of grant funding of more than £1.2m from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with the addition of extra funding being awarded.

The introduction of a borough-wide separate food waste collection service will help to reduce waste by around 25%, with the food waste being recycled into fertiliser and biogas for generating energy.

Councillor Netty Shepherd, Cabinet lead for Commercial, said: “Introducing weekly food waste collections will significantly reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill, and I would like to reassure our residents that the cost of setting up this new service is being funded by Central Government, and not from their council tax.

“We have a legal requirement to reach 65% recycling rate by 2035, that’s more than twice the amount the borough is currently achieving.

“Food waste collections will assist us in achieving the legal requirement of 65% recycling rate by 2035, which is more than twice the amount the borough is currently achieving. We are also looking at what else we can do as a council to help our residents recycle more, with the introduction of hard plastic collection points coming soon, so do look out for further announcements.”

“Future changes are also being proposed by Hampshire County Council that will help our recycling rate to rise even higher and reach the target we have been set.”

The types of food waste that will be collected separately will include:

•           food scraps including eggshells

•           cooked or raw meat and fish, including bones

•           bread, rice and pasta

•           teabags and coffee grounds 

•           fruit and vegetables

Introducing weekly kerbside collections of food waste will help reduce the chance of food decomposing and becoming attractive to pests. 

The funding through DEFRA grants will be used for caddies, food bins and specialist collection vehicles.

More information on the new collection service will be available during the coming months in the ‘Your Borough’ monthly e-newsletter, information delivered to all households, on the council’s website and social media channels.

The Borough of Havant’s current recycling rate is 30%

Havant Borough Council 5th June