Weekly food waste collections will be introduced across the city later this autumn, making it easier for residents to recycle their food leftovers, scraps and peelings. The new service is being rolled out as part of the government's Simpler Recycling legislation with collections for kerbside properties starting from the week of 26 October. Flats and communal properties will be included in a later rollout, starting in November 2026, with full roll-out completed by April 2027. Information packs, food waste caddies and liners are being delivered to households ahead of the launch.

What will happen?

Before collections start, every household will receive:

  • A letter giving details of the service.
  • Kitchen caddy - a small indoor caddy with a roll of liners and tag to request replacements.
  • Outdoor caddy - a larger, lockable caddy for weekly collection.
  • Information leaflet - a guide explaining how the service works and what can be collected.

Collection information

Collections will take place weekly on your usual collection day and will use a separate collection vehicle.
A small number of households may have a different collection day, and these residents will be contacted in advance.

Benefits

Food waste collections can:

  • Reduce household bin smells as weekly collections keep things fresher.
  • Help you to save money by wasting less food.
  • Turn leftovers and scraps into green energy and fertiliser.

Information about new food waste collections

You may have some questions about the service so please take a look below for some information:

Letter to households
What will it cost me?

There is no charge for the food waste collection service. 

How is it funded?

The government has provided the funding for the new trucks and the work to prepare for the new service. They have also provided additional funding to help us run the service.

Will I get fined if I don’t do it?

No – but there are benefits if you do.

Will I get liners to put in my food waste caddy?

We will provide a roll of 52 liners with the delivery of the two caddies. A system will be in place to ensure you can receive replacement liners when you run out.

What can and can’t go in my food waste caddy?

Items that can be put into your food waste caddy are:

  • Fruit and vegetables including peelings ✔
  • Fish, meat and bones (raw or cooked) ✔
  • Coffee grounds ✔
  • Tea bags ✔
  • Cheese ✔
  • Pasta, rice, bread and pastries ✔
  • Plate scrapings and leftovers ✔
  • Out-of-date food (without packaging) ✔
  • Egg shells ✔
  • Wet and dry pet food ✔

Do not put any of the following items into your food waste caddy: 

  • Liquids ✖
  • Plastic bags (including black bags) ✖
  • Compostable or biodegradable plastics ✖
  • Flowers and garden waste ✖
  • Pet litter and pet poo ✖
  • Nappies ✖
  • Packaging ✖
  • Any material that is not food waste ✖
Will the indoor caddy make my kitchen smell? What about pests?

Food waste recycling is often more hygienic than having food waste sit around in your household bin. The caddy is collected weekly, (unlike general waste bins), and has a locking handle to seal in odours and keep out animals.

Why can’t I put food waste in with my garden waste?

Food waste cannot be placed in the garden waste bin because it is collected and processed differently.

Food waste must be collected weekly to prevent odours, pests, and hygiene issues, whereas garden waste is collected fortnightly and intended only for green materials such as grass cuttings, leaves and small branches.

What happens to my food waste?

The food waste we collect from you will be treated using a natural process called anaerobic digestion, which uses microorganisms to break down food waste without oxygen and turn it into useful products. 
It will be recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser for local farms. 
 

I already compost, why do I need this?

Home composting is great for fruit and veg, but your food waste caddy can take things your home compost heap shouldn't, such as cooked leftovers, meat, fish, and bones.

There have been collections before. Why are you doing them again?

This is government legislation and it is mandatory for councils to offer the collection service. 

The legislation requires councils to collect food waste separately, so less waste goes to incineration and more is recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser.

What if I don’t want to take part?

Taking part in the food waste recycling service is completely optional, and we understand that it may not be right for everyone. However, we really hope you’ll choose to join in, as it helps reduce waste and supports a more sustainable way of managing food waste.  

If you decide not to take part, we won’t collect the food waste caddies from you as they belong at your property.  
You’re welcome to use the food waste caddies for another purpose, such as storage, but please leave them at the property if you move so the next resident can use them.

I haven’t received my caddies

Our crews are delivering caddies to households across the city over the next few weeks and residents will receive their caddy packs at different times, so please do not worry if you haven’t received your delivery yet.

However, if your street has received a caddy and yours is missing, this can be reported to us before the service starts. A missed caddy form will be available on this page from 12 October.

I haven’t received my liners with my caddy delivery

You will be able to order missed liners before the food waste collection service starts.
An order form will be available on this page from 12 October.

Please note that our crews are currently delivering caddy packs to households across the city and will not be able to process missed liner requests until w/c 12 October.
 

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