A FOOD waste recycling pilot scheme is being launched in Halton.

The service will be trialled by 1,200 homes in Hale in Widnes and the Heath area in Runcorn for the next six months.

Halton Council, which spends more than £3 million a year dealing with general waste, hopes the venture will save money.

Food waste recycler Re-Food which has a plant in Widnes will collect the waste and recycle it through anaerobic digestion, capturing biogas produced during the food waste’s natural degradation process.

The gas is upgraded and fed directly to the national gas grid where it is used to heat their homes.

The process also produces a nutrient-rich fertiliser, ReGrow, which is used by farmers to grow new crops, creating a completely sustainable food chain.

Halton Cllr Stef Nelson, board member for the environment said: “Food waste makes up a significant part of the domestic waste stream.

“Not only does it contaminate materials that could otherwise be recycled, it is also very expensive to deal with when placed in the black bin and mixed with general waste.

“The benefit of working with ReFood is the company’s ability to take food waste in packaging which makes it even easier for residents to recycle.”

The trial will see residents recycle plate scrapings, peelings and unused food.

It is hoped the scheme will be extended across Halton.

Saving money on dealing with waste will help to minimise the impact of budget cuts and allow the council to maintain frontline services which could be axed or reduces.

Philip Simpson, commercial director of ReFood, said: “With our plant on the doorstep, recycling local food waste and turning it into renewable energy makes perfect sense.

“It’s vitally important that we keep food waste out of landfill. It is an extremely valuable resource and one that has negative environmental effects if left to rot in landfill.”