RECYCLING
You can also, of course, take them to
the borough’s two re-use and recycling
centres in Stirling Road, Acton (W3
8DJ) or Greenford Road (UB6 9AP).
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet
member for transport, environment and
leisure, said: “We know that buying a
real Christmas tree from a sustainable
source is best for the environment.
I’m delighted that, for the sixth year
running, we are offering a free doorstep
collection of real Christmas trees to
ensure that once the festivities are over,
your tree can be composted and help
grow the next generation of trees or
grow food. Alternatively, if your tree still
has its roots, you might want to plant it
in the garden to reuse next year.”
FOOD-POWERED FAIRY LIGHTS
Did you know the average UK family
throws away more food at Christmas than
at any other time of the year? But it never
needs to be thrown away – recycled
leftovers can be converted into electricity.
Too much unused food ends up in
people’s black refuse bins. The council
has to pay a tax based on the weight
of your waste it collects and takes to
landfill – which means that some of your
valuable council tax is
being spent on
paying for
throwing away perfectly good food. So it
is a waste of food and a waste of money.
But it is also a waste of potential power…
Even with the best habits, it is inevitable
that there will be some food waste. Any
that you do have should be placed in
your green food waste bin – or, if you live
in a flat, in the communal food waste bins.
Cooked and uncooked food can be
put in the food waste bins. This means
that turkey bones, Christmas pudding,
vegetable peelings and half-eaten
mince pies can all be put in there
together and they will be collected by
the council each week.
Once food waste is collected, it is
sent to a special recycling plant where
it is turned into fertiliser which can be
used on farms to grow the food for next
year’s Christmas dinner – and this whole
‘anaerobic digestion’ process of breaking
down the food waste also generates
electricity for the National Grid, which
can help power the fairy lights.
“A table full of good food is a time
honoured Christmas tradition,” said
Councillor Mahfouz. “We all do our best
to finish what’s served up, even if it takes
us a few days to make the most of the
Turkey and trimmings. If you’re looking
for innovative ideas to make the most of
your Christmas meal then do have a look
at the Love Food Hate Waste homepage
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com. But if
there’s food left over that you can’t use
up then make sure to recycle it in your
food waste bin. After all, you’ve already
paid once for it, throwing it away
in the bin will mean you’re paying
again to send it to landfill instead of
turning it into valuable electricity.
Unfortunately too many people
will go without enough food this
Christmas, so please don’t waste it.”
To order a food waste bin,
go to www.ealing.gov.uk/
reportit or to find Christmas
leftover recipes go to
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
around ealing
Winter 2016/17
11