This Spring, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will join with Recycle Now and partners across Northern Ireland to encourage members of the public to recycle their food waste.

Now more than ever it’s important to use all the food we buy and make use of leftovers, if that’s not possible we’re asking residents to dispose of their food waste in the right way.

Recent research from WRAP shows that some of us still put food in our main rubbish bin from time to time, with latest estimates highlighting that around one third of the contents of rubbish bins is made up of food, some of which could have been eaten or recycled to make compost.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Ciarán McQuillan said: “It’s important that we all do what we can to avoid unnecessary waste.

“Council provides all householders with a both brown bin and biodegradable liners so food waste can be recycled in the most convenient way possible. In addition, the food waste collected is used to make compost which is used throughout our Council area whether for flowers or for edible produce.

“I am delighted to join partners at Recycle Now to highlight the importance of recycling food waste correctly this Spring, if you need more guidance visit our website where there is plenty of information on how you can LiveSmart and be FoodSmart.”

WRAP has advised the best thing we can do with our food is to eat it, but for inedible items, make your caddy your go-to bin.

Even small amounts of food like vegetable stalks, banana peels and coffee grounds can all be recycled, this waste along with other organic matter like garden waste can have a new life as compost and soil conditioners – this returns important nutrients and organic matter back to the soil and therefore reduces reliance on peat based growing matter.

Food waste collected on its own is also used to create green energy through a process called anaerobic digestion.

It is possible to save up to £80 per month by using all the food we buy through simple things like making a meal plan, checking your fridge temperature and learning to be more creative with flexible recipes using leftovers – visit Love Food Hate Waste for more information.

If you need a brown bin or caddy, biodegradable liners or would like more information on what to put in your caddy, visit our website https://causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/bins-and-recycling