inform-residents-newsletter-spring-summer-2016 (2)

07 FoodWaste Recycling Why recycle foodwaste? Organicwastemakes up approximately one- third of thewaste in your household bin. Separating foodwaste and not putting it in your residual black/green binwill reduce the environmental impact of foodwaste. Not only does foodwaste in landfill release methane, a damaging greenhouse gas which is 20 timesmore potent thanCO 2 , it also produces a leachate (bin juice), a liquidwhich can contaminate adjacent water supplies. From1April 2016 schools and businesses that produce 5kg ormore of foodwaste per weekmust separate it for collection. From 1April 2017 foodwaste fromhouseholds cannot be sent to landfill. How to use your collection The Council collects foodwaste fortnightly from11,000 households in the brown bin collection and froma further 3,500 rural households in a separate foodwaste caddy collection. What foodwaste can be collected? All foodwaste including: • Fruit &Vegetables • Meat – Raw&Cooked • Fish – Raw&Cooked • Cheese, Eggs • Breads &Cereals • Rice, Pasta, Beans • Leftovers fromyour plate • Tea bags Brown bin collection All foodwaste is collected fortnightly in the brown binwith gardenwaste. Householders have received a small, 5-litre caddy and compostable liners for use in the kitchen. The contents are then transferred to the larger brown bin and presented on your collection day. Separate foodwaste caddy collection All foodwaste is collected fortnightly in the 23-litre caddy. You have received a small, 5-litre caddy and compostable liners for use in your kitchen. The contents are then transferred to 23-litre caddy and presented on your collection day. What happens to your foodwastewhen it is collected? Brown binwaste The contents of the brown bin, amixture of foodwaste and green (garden) waste, is shredded and composted in an enclosed system, and used as a soil conditioner Separate foodwaste collection The foodwaste collected separately goes to anaerobic digestion, wheremicro-organisms break it down in an enclosed system. As food breaks down it gives off methane, which is collected and converted into biogas and used to generate electricity, heat or transport fuels. It also creates a nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land regeneration Additional compostable liners are available, free of charge, fromCouncil Offices, the Public Services Centre, Gortrush and KillyvillyDepots and fromRecycling Centres located throughout the district. 08 NewApp toHelpWaste Management The Council has recently introduced Bin- ovation , a new App which gives residents instant access to information about waste management, including details on bin collection, recycling centres across the district, and how to treat hundreds of household waste items. Bin-ovation , which is free to download, is available for smart phones and tablets and provides: • Information onwhat to put in each bin • Calendar and reminder of which day your bin is collected • Opening hours andGPS directions to your local recycling centres, andwhat each centre accepts • News on your current and new collections, and changes to services • Tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle To download the app go to the App store or Google Play and type “Bin-ovation” on your android or smart phone and follow the download instructions. For IPad users, select IPhone onlywhen searching. Council Upgrades Irvinestown Recycling Centre The Council has been awarded Rethink WasteGrant Funding of £247,770 to upgrade facilities at Irvinestown Recycling Centre. Larger containers will be installed at the sitewhich, together with the use of newcompactor units, will significantly increase the capacity for recycling the numerous waste streams. This will result in amuchmore efficient site andwill minimise the unsightliness of overflowing skips, encouraging greater levels of recycling by the residents of the area. The upgraded Recycling Centrewill also have facilities for collecting and storing paint and furniture for re-use. The Centre is scheduled to be re- opened before the end ofMarch. The upgrade at Irvinestown is part of the Council’s commitment to deliver an efficient and effective network of household recycling centres across the district to ensure that high quality recycling facilities are available to all residents. Ensuring CleanNeighbourhoods and Environment The Fermanagh and Omagh district is recognised as a beautiful and largely unspoilt natural area and a priority for the Council is to protect and enhance the local natural and built environment, providing a quality place where people wish to live, work and visit. The Council spent £1.8million last year on street cleansing operations. However dropping litter, chewing gumand cigarette butts remains a constant problem, despite thewide availability of litter bins and the many public recycling facilities available. CleanNeighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011 Under this legislation councils have additional powers to deal with environmental issues such as • Littering and fly-posting • Dog control and dog fouling • Illegal signage • Graffiti The Council takes the enforcement of this legislation very seriously and is committed to ensuring that it is implemented. Enforcement action ranges from issuing informal warnings, to fines and, where appropriate, prosecution. Fines A range of fines is imposed for offences. For littering, graffiti, fly-posting or putting leaflets on cars, and for dog fouling, a Fixed PenaltyNotice, imposing a fine of £75 is issued. The finewill be reduced to £50 for early payment, within 10working days. Non-payment of a littering or dog fouling fine could lead to prosecution, with the possibility of higher fines and other penalties being imposed. Since 1April 2015we have issued: 143 fines for littering and dumping 5 fines for dog fouling 14 fines for stray dogs We encourage everyone to take responsibility for caring for their environment by disposing of litter properly in bins or taking it home, and by looking after their dog responsibly. Did YouKnow? • Putting foodwaste in landfill costs £120 per tonne! • We throwawaymore food from our homes than packaging! • We throwaway tonnes of good food every day. The average family throws away £60worth of food eachmonth.