Anna Tiefenbacher, ORC

1. IMPROVING FOOD WASTE
COLLECTIONS WITHIN BUSINESSES
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
#UKADBiogas @adbioresources
CHAIR:
DR DAVID GREENFIELD, SOENECS
PANEL:
ANNA TIEFENBACHER, ORGANIC RESOURCE AGENCY
CAMILO WILCHES, BIOGAS WESER-EMS GMBH
CHRIS MILLS, WRAP
TREVOR NICOLL, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME
BOROUGH COUNCIL

2. Food waste collection from
SMEs in Birmingham
Feasibility study by
Anna Tiefenbacher & Dr Hugh Bulson

3. Introduction
• Project partners:
2nd July 2015 2
• Project duration: June 2014 – March 2015
ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

4. Project area
2nd July 2015 3
Sparkbrook
NEC
ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

5. Target SMEs
o Independent supermarkets
o Restaurants
o Fast food take-aways
2nd July 2015 4
Food businesses
ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

6. Engagement with SMEs
• Initial list of 26 SMEs
(recommended by East End Foods and Birmingham City Council)
• 16 SMEs approached
• 12 SMEs successfully contacted & visited
• 9 SMEs interested in FW recycling
• Repeat visit to 4 SMEs with Veolia staff
• 0 SMEs implemented FW recycling
• Contact with AD facility, local business improvement district, local
charity re-distributing food
2nd July 2015 ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham 5

7. What would make it attractive for SMEs
to recycle food waste ?
□ Pay less for FW recycling than for general (black bag) waste
□ Big containers OR high collection frequency
(more than 1x per week)
□ Flexible contracts (less than 1 year)
□ Leakage proof containers
□ Acceptance of plastic bags within the
food waste
2nd July 2015 6ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

8. Reality check
 Collection cost
o Higher for FW than for residual waste
o Expansion of project area
o Collective procurement exercise
o Waste minimisation, food donations
 Time & priorities of business owners
 Container 240L wheeled bin
o Storage space
o Collection frequency 1x week
 12-month contract
 Leakage proof containers
 Acceptance of CLEAR plastic bags
2nd July 2015 7ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham
5x

9. To overcome barriers
• Charge for residual waste according to
weight not volume
• Decrease cost of collection
• Encourage collective procurement of
FW collection service
• Regulatory requirement to separate FW
(on the agenda in Wales)
• Enforcement of waste hierarchy
2nd July 2015 8
Source reduction
Feed people
Feed animals
Industrial uses
Anaerobic digestion/
composting
Incineration
landfillADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

10. 2nd July 2015 9
Thank you!
For more information please contact ORA:
Telephone: 01684 585423
Website: www.o-r-a.co.uk
Email: Anna Tiefenbacher
atiefenbacher@o-r-a.co.uk
Hugh Bulson
hbulson@o-r-a.co.uk
ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

11. Image references
Slide 1: Leftover curry on plate, available at: https://partners.wrap.org.uk/assets/8414/
Slide 4: Ladypool Road, available at:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/kebabs-shops-on-every-corner-how-375748
Slide 5: Yes and No list, own source based on WRAP
Slide 6: Food waste in cardboard box, available at:
http://highrisefacilities.com/massachusetts-hotels-must-comply-food-waste-disposal-ban-october/
Slide 7: Pound sterling, available at:
http://www.glogster.com/siannasterling/scotland/g-6mea4jttr58gkn702j200a0
Series of bins, available at:
http://www.bourneskiphire.biz/commercial-wheelie-bin-hire.php
Contract, available at:
http://www.webeden.co.uk/blog/archive/building-a-website-for-a-client-make-sure-you-have-a-contract/
Slide 8: Food waste, available at:
http://www.ehabitat.it/2014/08/09/la-settimana-europea-per-la-riduzione-dei-rifiuti-2014-contro-lo-spreco-alimentare/
Food waste hierarchy , own source
Slide 9: Sack of rubbish, available at: http://gideonkendall.com/blog/?tag=life-drawing&paged=3
2nd July 2015 10ADBA UK AD & Biogas 2015, Birmingham

12. IMPROVING FOOD WASTE
COLLECTIONS WITHIN BUSINESSES
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
#UKADBiogas @adbioresources
CHAIR:
DR DAVID GREENFIELD, SOENECS
PANEL:
ANNA TIEFENBACHER, ORGANIC RESOURCE AGENCY
CAMILO WILCHES, BIOGAS WESER-EMS GMBH
CHRIS MILLS, WRAP
TREVOR NICOLL, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME
BOROUGH COUNCIL