City looks to tie up food waste deal

COUNCIL bosses have begun the search for a contractor that will treat the waste collected as part of a new food recycling scheme.

The pilot scheme would see city residents supplied with plastic boxes, which will be collected on a weekly basis, adding to those already handed out for newspapers, packaging and garden waste.

If successful, it will be rolled out on a permanent basis across the city.

Edinburgh City Council said it was looking for a contractor to run an Anaerobic digestion facility, which would help generate biogas - a form of renewable energy - from decomposing food.

A spokeswoman said: "The procurement of the AD facility marks a significant step towards a zero waste future.

"At the moment the majority of food waste collected in the area is sent to landfill."