RESIDENTS in South Lakeland will be given help with their digestion thanks to a new green scheme.

South Lakeland District Council’s Cabinet has voted to establish a budget that will enable people to buy cheaper ‘digesters’ for disposing of food waste.

Cumbria County Council has made Waste Infrastructure Capital Grant funding available for the purchase of food waste digesters, as part of its waste minimisation programme.

SLDC has made a successful application for funding from the grant to buy and distribute 796 discounted food waste digesters.

The council has obtained funding for 400 green cone digesters which take all household food waste, including vegetable scraps, raw and cooked meat or fish, bones, dairy products and

other organic kitchen waste. These will cost householders £15.

And it has also obtained 296 Green Johanna hot composters which recycles food into compost and will cost £20.

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Coun Sue Sanderson, SLDC’s portfolio holder for Environment and People, said: “This is a positive scheme and it is cost-neutral to the council, other than the administration costs which is why we need this budget.

“Cumbria County Council estimates that up to 179 tonnes of food waste per year could be diverted from collection systems if people used these food waste digesters.’’

Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson, CCC Cabinet member for Environment, said: “We know from public feedback that these food digesters are really sought after, so I’m delighted we’re able to use this funding to make them available at a fraction of the normal price.

“By using these units to treat food waste within the home, households will not only reduce their carbon footprint but also help us to make significant savings on waste treatment costs.”

People can order the units by calling 0800 013 1304.