We will be rolling out a new weekly food waste collection service in line with government requirements from week commencing 27 April 2026.
Why is this happening?
Food waste makes up around a third of household rubbish which is currently incinerated.
Did you know the average household throws away around £800 of edible food each year?
The government's simpler recycling initiative requires that all local councils roll out a separate food waste service in April 2026.
By collecting food waste separately, we can:
- Turn food waste into energy & bio-fertiliser via anaerobic digestion.
- Help you to see what food is being wasted in your house.
- Free up more room in your general waste bin if needed.
How will it work?
As part of the new kerbside collection service you will receive:
- A small kitchen caddy (7L) to collect food waste indoors.
- A larger kerbside caddy (23L) to present for weekly collection.
- A roll of liners.
- Detailed instructions on how to recycle your food waste.
There is no need to sign up – we’ll deliver everything to you before the service starts.
What do you need to do?
We’ll be in touch before the service launches. In the meantime:
- Look out for your caddies and liners in Spring 2026.
- Watch our video guides closer to launch.
- Recycle and reuse as much of your waste as you can.
- What can go in my food caddy?
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We’ll send you a full list of what you can and can't put in your new caddy, for example:
Yes please
- Fruit and vegetables - including peelings.
- Fish, meat and bones.
- Tea bags and coffee grounds.
- Eggs and dairy products.
- Bread products.
- Leftovers and out-of-date food (no containers or packaging)
No thanks
- No liquids, oils or fats.
- No garden waste.
- No food packaging.
- No non food waste.
- Frequently asked questions
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Why are we introducing this service?
The Government’s Simpler Recycling Initiative, part of the Environment Act 2021, requires all councils to introduce a weekly food waste collection service for residents from April 2026.How do I use the service?
You will receive:- a 7 litre light grey kitchen caddy, and
- a 23 litre light grey outdoor kerbside caddy.
Liners will be provided for your kitchen caddy. Simply tie the liner when full and place it into your kerbside caddy ready for your weekly collection. Both caddies have lockable lids to help prevent spills and pests.
When will I receive my caddies?
Both caddies, along with a roll of liners, will be delivered in April 2026.When does the service start?
Collections will begin week commencing 27 April 2026.When will my collection be?
Your kerbside caddy will be emptied weekly, on the same day as your current waste and recycling collections.
Please place your caddy alongside or in front of your bins so it is clearly visible to the crew. Food waste will be collected by a separate vehicle.What happens when I run out of liners?
Near the end of each roll, you will find a re order tag. Tie this to your kerbside caddy handle and the crew will leave a new roll inside your caddy after collection.You may also use any other plastic or carrier bag if needed.
What if I don’t want to participate? Can I opt out?
No. The Government has introduced this service as part of national recycling requirements, and all councils must provide a weekly food waste collection for every household. Because of this, we are unable to remove the caddies from properties — each home must have an allocated set, even if residents choose not to use them.Why is using the service a benefit for me?
By using the food waste collection service, you can free up valuable space in your domestic bin. At the moment, residents receive a fortnightly collection of a 240 litre bin. By separating out your food waste, you could remove up to 23 litres per week, creating as much as 46 litres of extra capacity over two weeks. This helps prevent your general waste bin from becoming full as quickly and makes managing household waste easier.Why are plastic liners being used instead of compostable ones?
Experience from other councils shows compostable liners often split easily, creating mess and discouraging residents from recycling food waste.Plastic liners:
- are stronger and more reliable
- increase participation in food waste recycling
- are removed at the processing plant and incinerated to generate energy, so they do not affect the recycling process.
If single use plastic is harmful, why use plastic liners at all?
Plastic liners provide a cleaner, easier and more durable way to use the service. Evidence shows residents are more likely to recycle food waste when liners are provided, which increases overall environmental benefit.I receive an assisted collection. Will this continue?
Yes. Your kerbside caddy will be collected from your usual assisted collection point.I live in a flat/apartment. Can I use the service?
Yes. All communal properties will receive:- a kitchen caddy
- a roll of liners
Please tie your liners and place them in the 140 litre light grey communal food waste bin in your bin store.
Is there a charge for this service?
No. Food waste collections are a statutory service and are provided free of charge.What can I put in my food waste caddy?
You can include all food waste, such as:- meat and fish (raw or cooked, including bones)
- dairy products (e.g., cheese, eggs, eggshells)
- raw or cooked fruit and vegetables
- bread, cakes, pastries
- rice, pasta, beans
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- out of date food
- plate scrapings and leftovers
What can’t go in the caddy?
Your caddy must not contain:- animal litter
- faeces
- bedding
- any non food contamination
Contaminated caddies will not be collected.
What about food packaging?
Please remove all packaging before placing food into your liner. Dispose of packaging as you normally would.What happens to the food waste?
Food waste is recycled through Anaerobic Digestion (AD). This process:- produces biogas, a renewable energy source used to generate electricity and heat
- creates bio fertiliser, rich in nutrients, which is used on local farmland to support crop growth
Can I still put food waste in my domestic bin?
Yes, but we encourage residents to use the weekly food waste collection.Can I put my house number on the caddy?
Yes, and we recommend doing so.My caddy has been missed — what should I do?
You can report a missed collection online.Please ensure your caddy is:
- presented by 7am on collection day
- placed in a visible location
- closed with the lid fully shut