East Dunbartonshire residents are being urged to take part in Stop Food Waste Day and help turn their food waste from enemy to energy.
Around a third of rubbish being chucked into grey residual bins across the region is made up of food waste, which emits harmful methane gas once it breaks down in landfill sites.
Stop Food Waste Day is on Thursday 24 April and residents are being encouraged to use the free food recycling service offered by the Council to drastically reduce the amount of waste being thrown into domestic bins.
The average Scottish household which does not recycle food waste is currently throwing the equivalent of £437 per year into the bin even though almost all dry food can be recycled.
In East Dunbartonshire, food is treated before being converted into energy.
Kitchen caddies and bin liners are provided by the Council, while the larger kerbside caddies lock to prevent smells, leaks and spillages, and are emptied once a week.
Councillor Susan Murray, Vice Convener of the Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee, said, "When food waste goes to landfill it creates harmful gases like methane, which feeds climate change. But by recycling your food waste you can turn it from enemy to energy
"Food waste recycling couldn’t be easier and anything such as peelings, apple cores, bones, shells, tea bags and both cooked and raw food can go in.
"We hope that residents will also consider the amount of food that they throw away and www.greenerscotland.org has great tips on reducing and recycling food waste. There will still always be unavoidable food waste, so if you can’t use it, recycle it."
If you would like to order a food waste caddy, please contact the Council on 0300 123 4510. More information about recycling can be found at https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/recycling-and-waste
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