MORE than £3million-a-year could be saved if Surrey residents put all their food waste in their caddy rather than in their rubbish, the county council estimates.

It costs less than half to recycle food waste through anaerobic digestion compared to throwing it in with the rubbish which goes for expensive waste disposal.

This means that recycling all food waste would, according to the council, make savings to help protect other council services like social care, libraries and schools.

To help make the savings, Surrey’s councils will be working with residents this autumn.

Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for environment and planning (pictured), said: “Putting food waste in your caddy for collection is clean and easy when you use plastic bags instead of the old compostable liners which cost more and could easily leak or tear.

“If everybody put their food waste in their caddy Surrey’s councils would have more money to spend on the services residents value most.”

• Find out more details at www. ecycleforsurrey.org.uk