SAVINGS of almost £40,000 were notched up during the first five months of Bournemouth’s new food waste collection scheme.

A report assessing the effectiveness of the scheme reveals that 1,045 tonnes of food waste were collected between March and July this year.

Collected food waste was composted in Piddlehinton and then used both to generate power and as slurry for use on farmland.

The energy raised from food waste in the first five months was enough to power 76 households for a year, it has been calculated.

The report to the council’s environment and transport panel revealed the main problem has been the number of food waste containers that went missing during the first few weeks of the scheme.

So far, the council has had to replace 4,234 food bins.

Residents have also used their caddy liners more quickly than the council anticipated. Households were originally issued with a six-month supply but the first five months saw the council receive 12,500 requests for replacement liners.

Councillors were told the scheme was now set to be expanded to communal flat properties and commercial organisations. There will also be a PR campaign to promote waste reduction and recycling.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is one of Bournemouth’s success stories.

“The public have joined in so wonderfully and so many people are separating their food waste.

“The more that can be diverted from landfill and put into some area of recycling the better. It means the council doesn’t have to pay the best part of £100 per tonne in taxes and landfill costs.

“It’s not just helping the environment, it’s actually saving money and helping to keep council tax down.”