Councillors agreed £80,000 of funding last night to supply thousands of residents with a kitchen caddy – a small recycling bin for food waste.

Three Rivers District Council’s Executive Committee agreed a proposal to deliver one plastic, seven-and-a-half litre caddy to each home in the district.

Council officers argue the scheme, successfully trialled in the Abbots Langley area last year, will significantly increase organic recycling rates.

Councillor Phil Brading, portfolio holder for public services and health, told the meeting the scheme would not only help the council meet national targets of 50 per cent.

The scheme will be part funded by central government, which will, pending the result of a grant application, meet around £54,000 of the total cost.

The scheme will be implemented on an opt-out basis, with residents asked to collect food waste in the caddy before dumping it in their brown recycling bin.

Councillor Brading said after the meeting: “We know some people won’t want or use them but even if just a small number do we will see a significant increase in the amount of food waste recycled.”

Councillor Brading added that any increase in recycling would save taxpayers’ money by reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.

The date of the roll-out has not yet been announced but will come after April. The council’s Executive Committee did, however, agree to change the colour of the proposed units.

They have been switched from green to brown – thus avoiding any confusion with the existing recycling system.

What do you think? Would you use a kitchen caddy or do you object to being told how to dispose of your food waste?