Westminster’s first ‘Rocket’ composting project was officially launched on the 16th November by Cllr Danny Chalkley, Westminster City Council's Cabinet Member for City Management.

Each year the UK generates millions of tonnes of food waste from all parts of the food supply chain - food processing, retailing, catering and household waste.  It is estimated that each household produces approximately 3.5kg of food waste per week.  The vast majority of food waste ends up in landfill, where it rots and produces methane (one of the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change).
 
To address this, Vital Regeneration, in partnership with Westminster City Council's Recycling Department have introduced a food waste collection service for residents living on the Church Street Estate.  Each household is provided with a kitchen caddy and compostable caddy liners, free of charge, to collect their food waste.  The ‘Rocket’, which turns food waste into compost in 14 days, has been in operation in Church Street for a year and has seen 60 tonnes of food waste turned into compost.

The compost produced has been used by residents involved in ‘Let’s Go, Let’s Grow’, a resident-led food growing project on Church Street Estate and has also been used to improve local green spaces.