From the summer of 2026, the councils hope to roll out a food waste collection service which will divert thousands of tonnes of biodegradable material a year to be broken down into fertiliser instead of being dumped in landfill.

Meanwhile, since November the councils have successfully managed to almost treble the amount of food waste they are collecting from businesses and sending for processing rather than incineration.

To reduce the environmental impact of their waste vehicles, the councils have begun replacing them with electric ones as they reach the end of their life. While this process happens, officers are switching the fuel they use in existing council vehicles from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) - a more sustainable fuel made from waste organic materials like cooking oil and fat, the use of which emits significantly less carbon dioxide than diesel.

The committee will receive an update on other initiatives to reduce the carbon emissions associated with heating buildings. This includes the Worthing Heat Network, installation of solar panels on council-owned properties and the replacement of gas boilers with air source heat pumps. That work will continue through the installation of improved insulation and glazing at council properties as well as the fitting of more solar panels.

With a clear priority to increase biodiversity, they’ve also planted more trees and introduced drought-resistant plants, while reducing their water usage by installing irrigation systems on bowling greens and using grey water from Worthing’s splashpad to help support nearby plants and trees.

The committee will be briefed on the topics by Jan Jonker, the councils’ assistant director of operations and sustainability.

Cllr Andrew Harvey, Adur’s cabinet member for the environment and leisure, and Gareth Rollings, the head of recycling and waste at West Sussex County Council, will also be present.

Residents should email their questions for the committee to ask to [email protected] by midday on Monday 30th June.

Cllr Joss Loader, the Adur JOSC chair, said: “Councils are under increasing pressure to meet the challenges of climate change and it’s vital we engage with our residents to ensure that we have them on board.

“Discussing the issues in an open and transparent way is a vital part of the engagement process.”

Cllr Heather Mercer, the Worthing JOSC chair, said: “By listening to the concerns of our communities and working with officers we can make services better and more efficient.

“Every question sent in by residents before the deadline will be read and considered so that we can best represent the thoughts of the people of Adur and Worthing.”

The meeting is open to all and will be held at the QEII Room at The Shoreham Centre from 6.30pm on Thursday 3rd July.

To read the full agenda visit https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=2156&x=1