SEPARATE food waste collections will stop this week.

The service will stop on Friday (January 10) following a decision by Wychavon District Council in September last year.

The move was made after a residents' survey saw 88 per cent pick it as the top way to save money. This was coupled with less than 20 per cent of residents using the £550,00 a year service.

The consultation, which over 1,700 Wychavon residents took the time to complete, asked them to rank the services that meant most to them and the ones they'd be prepared to lose, as the council battles to save £4million over four years.

Councillor Ron Davis, contracted services, environment and health, said: “Residents were informed of the decision back in September, in our residents’ magazine in November, on our website and social media, so we hope this has given them ample time to make alternative arrangements. Residents who use the service and aren’t sure what to do with food waste can talk to us about home composting or minimising waste in other ways.”

Residents are advised to home compost, use wormeries or as a last resort put food waste in their black bin. Food bins and caddies can be put to alternative uses and residents have been known to come up with some interesting alternatives such as animal feed containers, paint pots and plant pots.

Anyone wanting more information on home composting or minimising food waste can go to letswasteless.com or call 01386 565018.