LARAC has asked Defra for clarification on the Food Waste Capital Grant Determination Letter recently sent to LAs.
We asked where the branding needs to apply but still waiting for an answer to this (email 14 Feb). We also asked about if LAs were able to continue co-collection of household and non- household waste as there was concern over the sentence “ The vehicles that are purchased for food waste collections should not be used for commercial purposes”.
Defra have responded to this saying,
“the funding amount has been provided based on calculations on household numbers. Local authorities need to ensure that separate food waste collections are rolled out to all households in their area by 31 March 2026 (unless a transitional arrangement has been agreed). How they choose to implement those collections locally with other waste related work they are undertaking will be for them to decide using any existing resources and new resources provided with this funding.”
LARAC is pleased with this response which confirms that LAs are best placed to decide how waste collections happen locally, so that’s a yes to co-collection. We will continue to lobby for an answer on the branding issue.
One of our Executive Members also asked for clarification on the wording for the declaration, raised by their Chief Internal auditor. Defra have confirmed that the wording can be changed from:
“To the best of our knowledge and belief, and having carried out appropriate investigations and checks, in our opinion, in all significant respects, the conditions attached to Food Waste Collection Grant Determination No XXXXXXX have been complied with”.
To:
“To the best of our knowledge and belief, and having carried out appropriate investigations and checks, in our opinion, in all significant respects, the conditions attached to Food Waste Collection Grant Determination No XXXXXXX will be complied with”.
