Residents in Basingstoke and Deane and Hart can now start separating their peelings and scraps from their rubbish, ready for the start of weekly food waste collections in October.
Working with their waste collection contractor Serco, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council will launch the new recycling service the week beginning Monday 6 October, ahead of the Government’s mandatory deadline of April 2026.
Residents can now start filling their food waste caddies to recycle more and cut waste in their rubbish bin. Food waste needs to be contained in liners or plastic bags and will be collected weekly on the same day as their rubbish and recycling collections, unless they have been contacted to tell them otherwise.
Caddy packs were delivered to all homes throughout August and September. These included a silver indoor caddy, a green outdoor caddy, an information leaflet and a roll of liners.
Those people who share waste and recycling bins will receive their indoor caddy and large communal bins towards the end of September, ahead of the first food waste collection.
All food items put into the caddies - including fruit and vegetable peelings, raw or cooked meat and fish including bones and shells, tea bags and coffee grounds, eggshells, pet food and all uneaten food and plate scrapings - will be turned into greener energy and fertiliser.
Residents can check their information leaflet delivered with the caddies for what can go in or scan the QR code on the top of the silver indoor caddy.
Councillor Alan Oliver, Hart District Council Portfolio Holder for Development Management and Waste Services said: “We're pleased to be able to offer this new service to our residents, following successful delivery of caddies across the district.
"Residents are keen to increase what they can recycle, but we know getting used to using these caddies will take time, with many of us preset to putting our tea bags and eggshells straight in the bin!
"We appreciate residents reading the leaflets provided and making this behaviour change to increase recycling rates across Hart. Please check our website for any extra information you need or contact us if there is anything we can help with."
For more information on food waste recycling Hart and links to check food waste collection days visit our food waste collections page.