Up to 27 businesses in Surbiton are set to take part in a pilot project aiming to support them cut back on their costs and greenhouse gas emissions relating to food waste.

Food waste in the hospitality sector has a significant financial and environmental impact which has led to Kingston Council, Kingston Green Business Community, local manufacturing design company JNDC and Limetrack coming together to help tackle the issue.

Through the partnership, specially designed bins with sensors and Internet of Things technology will be used by the participating Surbiton businesses, which will enable them to better measure, track and reduce their avoidable food waste.

The project will also provide the businesses with a dedicated collection service where leftover food will be processed to generate renewable energy and organic fertiliser.

As an example, six used tea bags could provide enough energy to boil the water for your next cup of tea if processed at a special facility called an anaerobic digestion plant. If the same six teabags went to landfill, the emissions produced would be equivalent to driving over 1 km in a small car. 

Currently cafes, pubs and restaurants in the Kingston borough and across London pay private companies to collect and dispose of their food waste, the majority of which is mixed in with other, general commercial waste. This is over twice as expensive to dispose of compared to food waste on its own.

Through the pilot project, it is hoped participating businesses will be able to save up to £6,000 on annual costs while also helping to reduce their carbon footprint by ensuring commercial food waste doesn't end up in landfill where it decomposes and releases a powerful greenhouse gas called methane.

Councillor John Sweeney, Portfolio Holder for Business, Recycling and Customer Care said: "Everybody has a role to play in tackling climate change by reducing carbon emissions. The council can help people and businesses do the right thing by supporting and implementing a scheme like this.

 "It's great to see how using technology can help save businesses money while helping to limit their impact on the environment. I look forward to seeing the results in the future!"

The results from the pilot will be analysed by Kingston University and if successful could be expanded to more hospitality businesses in and around Kingston.

Currently, food waste in Kingston is collected and sent to an anaerobic digestion plant where it is used to help generate electricity that is fed into the national grid.

Andy King, CEO of Limetrack added: "Profit and Planet - It's not a case of choosing one or the other. When it comes to food waste, by using Limetrack's SMART wheelie bin, you can have both!

 "A big thank you to Kingston Council and the hospitality businesses of Surbiton, who have been fantastic in getting the project off the ground.  The project is being championed by a number of local businesses including Alcheme Wellbeing."

The pilot initiative has been sponsored via the innovate project and funded by the Greater London Authority on behalf of the South London Partnership.

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