AN INQUIRY into rubbish and waste collection in Birmingham will look at introducing household food boxes, it has emerged.

The idea of separate collections of leftovers and off-cuts is being looked at as a way of cutting the amount of waste generated by every household in the city.

Last year Birmingham households disposed of 703 kg of waste last year, but the average for major cities in the UK was 628 kg, pulling the council off target.

But other targets, including the aim set in 2006 of doubling the amount of recycling to 34 per cent in five years, have been met.

The transport, environment and regeneration scrutiny committee will now completely review and could overhaul the council’s municipal waste strategy – although it was warned that any initiatives would be developed against a backdrop of spending cuts.

The committee was told that the average black bag waste is made up of 21 per cent paper and card, 13 per cent plastics, five per cent glass and four per cent metals and cans – all of which could be recycled particularly if measures such as the Nectar points reward scheme currently operating in Erdington and Bournville were expanded.

Some 30 per cent is non-compostable kitchen waste which could be put in a food recycling bin if they were introduced.