RESIDENTS in parts of Oxfordshire have been told they can use plastic bags to line food waste bins – and the bags will be turned into electricity.

The company that recycles food for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils is now able to process the bags for the first time.

Food waste is collected in the district every week and taken to Agrivert’s anaerobic digestion plant near Wallingford to be recycled into gas for electricity and fertiliser for local farmland.

The processing plant is now able to accept thin plastic bags, such as carrier bags, bread bags, paper wrappings, or normal pedal bin liners.

Residents can also continue to use compostable bags or newspapers to line their caddies and bins, or put food straight in without any liner.

Any bags used as liners will be removed at the processing plant and sent to an 'energy recovery facility' to be turned into electricity.

South Oxfordshire cabinet member for waste Tony Harbour said: "We know that compostable bags can be expensive and easily tear, so it’s great news that the plant can now take plastic bags.

"We are very grateful to our residents for their efforts in recycling which have helped our district to achieve the highest recycling rates in the country. We are always looking for opportunities to work with our partners to improve services for our residents and this is a good example."

All cooked and uncooked food can be put into food waste bins. Residents are advised that plastic retail packaging, or anything other than food waste, should not be put in.

During 2016/17, 10,024 tonnes of food waste was collected and sent for recycling in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.