Food waste collections

1. Line your grey indoor caddy

Line your caddy to keep your containers clean, prevent mould and protect our collection staff. We gave you a roll of 52 compostable liners to get you started. Once these run out you can buy more from the supermarket or reuse plastic liners or bags such as bread bags. These will be removed before your food waste is recycled.

2. Fill your indoor caddy

Use the information leaflet or our food waste webpages to help you to decide what goes in your food waste caddy.

3. Empty your grey indoor caddy

Tie your liner and put it in your green outdoor collection caddy or shared food waste bin. Store your outdoor caddy in the shade if you can with the handle in the upright position. This will help to prevent smells and will lock the lid of your caddy.

4. Your collection day

Your outdoor food waste caddy or shared bin will be emptied each week on the same day as your waste and recycling bins, unless we’ve told you otherwise. Put all containers out at your collection point by 6am. Food waste is collected by a separate vehicle so your various containers may be picked up at different times throughout the day. If you think you have been missed, you can report a missed collection through our website. 

Food waste is any waste generated through the preparation of food, or where there are leftovers after a meal. This includes:

• fruit and vegetable peelings, cores and skins
• teabags, coffee grounds and coffee filter papers
• plate scrapings
• raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells
• dairy products and eggshells
• bread, cakes and pastries
• cooked and uncooked rice, pasta and beans
• petfood

There are a few things that can't be put in your food waste bin. Please don't use it for:

• any liquids including milk, oils, fats, custard, cream and gravy
• packaging: put your pots, tubs, trays and similar packaging in your waste bin as normal. Put all clean plastic bottles, tins, cans, paper and cardboard in your blue recycling bin
• kitchen roll
• nappies
• clinical waste
• cat litter, dog poo or other pet waste
• garden waste and cut flowers
• other material that is not food waste

The recycling process turns food waste into a biogas. This contains natural gas, which is a greener energy source than fossil fuels, and valuable soil products such as nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertiliser.

By separating food waste, we should be able to deliver over 20% increases in recycling rates across the district.

Under the Environment Act 2021 all local authorities in England must provide weekly food waste collections by April 2026. By doing so we want to improve our recycling rate. 

Separating your food waste from your rubbish will reduce the amount you are currently putting in your waste bin and increase the amount you recycle which is vital for reducing carbon emissions.