Wales -waste food power scheme expands

A Powys, Wales project generating environmentally-friendly electricity from left-over food is to expand, doubling the amount of homes it serves.



BBC reports that the scheme, which began in Newtown last year, will take in the nearby towns of Welshpool and Montgomery and the village of Guilsfield.



Operator Cwm Harry Land Trust already collects leftovers from 5,300 homes, but that will rise to 10,300.



It hopes eventually to turn the waste into compost and sell it.



At the moment the waste is converted into electricity in Ludlow, Shropshire.



The trust said it was building a food composter in Newtown, but initially plans are to donate the product to a local farmer to use on his fields.



As part of the project, residents in Welshpool, Montgomery and Guilsfield are to receive special food waste bins.



David Clarke, the trust‘‘s project manager, said: "At the moment, the food waste is being taken to a biodigester to generate electricity.



"We are building a composter in Newtown, though, and we are looking at the possibility of eventually marketing the compost."



As part of the expansion the trust has teamed up with Powys Council, and its waste services manager, Ashley Collins, said he was delighted the partnership would "enable households in Welshpool to recycle their food waste".



The council said all biodegradable food waste would be accepted, including meat and cooked food which is not normally placed on garden compost.



Earlier this month the Welsh Assembly Government urged local authorities to introduce more food recycling as ministers unveiled a £50m package of grants.



More than half of councils in Wales have already started or aim to begin offering food waste recycling in the next year.