Author(s)

T. WOOLLAM , A. GRIFFITHS, K. WILLIAMS

Abstract

The Cardiff School of Engineering has examined numerous aspects with regard to increasing the diversion of household waste through kerbside recycling and composting schemes. Research has shown that there is a need to target and collect the kitchen/food waste stream to meet the 2010 Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) target of 40% recycling and/or composting. The WAG 2003 analysis of household waste showed that green waste made up 28% of a Welsh municipal solid waste, of which 12% was garden waste and 16% was kitchen waste. Therefore, the 15% minimum source-separated composting target by the year 2010 cannot be met by targeting garden waste alone. A case study authority is used as an example to show Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s current biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) diversion through traditional diversion routes. The BMW diversion deficit in meeting the Landfill Allowance Scheme Regulations is quantified and the potential fine for the case study authority is highlighted. This paper examines numerous aspects associated with the way other local authorities collect kitchen waste in England and Wales. The best practice of kitchen waste collection is identified in UK local authorities and the potential additional diversion attributed to this is then transferred to the case study Authority. Subsequent predictions are made about the implementation of a full kitchen waste collection scheme. A distinct lack of data relating to kitchen waste collection in the UK has been identified.

Keywords

biodegradable waste, BMW, collection, kerbside, kitchen waste, Wales.