SOUTHAMPTON residents are due a visit from the city council to ask their opinion on food waste.

Starting from this month, staff members from Resource Futures will visit homes across the city with a survey.

The council is also asking 150 households to give their permission for the food waste content in their bins to be analysed.

The findings will provide more information about food that is thrown away and will help to better understand behaviours around food and drink and how they have changed over recent years.

Dave Tyrie, head of city services said: “The data gathered will help us plan for the future waste collection changes that will come into effect with the Environment Act.

"It’ll enable us to model food waste collection rounds and look at the collection methods that will be most effective. It also supports the aims of the waste improvement action plan.”

Employees from Resource Futures who are visiting households will have official documentation with them to prove their identities.

Households that take part in the survey or waste analysis programme will not be identified in any way and can withdraw from the study at any time.

Councillor Rob Harwood said: “We’ll be able to see which areas in the city maybe need some extra support with regards to managing their food waste, specifically aiming to reduce the amount that is going to waste. It will allow us to target engagement work and communication campaigns, to help drive behaviour change.”