First Minister Alex Salmond has launched a scheme that recycles food waste.

The Commercial Food Waste Collection Service, run by Keenan Recycling, creates BSI accredited compost from items such as leftover food, coffee grounds, cups and paper towels collected from businesses and restaurants in the North East.

Keenan Recycling, which is based at New Deer in Aberdeenshire, already recycles green waste from a number of Scottish local authorities and food waste for Aberdeen City Council.

The Scottish Government published its Zero Waste Plan last month. It sets out key actions and new targets to tackle the near 20 million tonnes of waste produced in Scotland every year.

The plan focuses on transforming waste into a valuable resource which can be used to make new products, generate renewable energy, heat and fertiliser with the potential to create over 2,000 jobs.

The Government plans to introduce legislation requiring mandatory food waste collections by 2013, leading to savings for local authorities. This will increase the quality of other waste that can be separated and recycled for value.

Grant Keenan, Managing Director of Keenan Recycling, said:

"We are delighted that the First Minister is supporting the Commercial Food Waste Collection service as it is a major step to reduce landfill waste in Scotland and particularly in the North-east. Many companies already recycle the usual cans, plastic, cardboard and paper but food waste is the final piece in the recycling jigsaw.

"Our collection service can be used by a variety of companies and we are already working with a number of firms in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including large oil companies, waste management companies, hotels, colleges and shopping centres."