Changes to food waste collections from Autumn 2026
From Autumn 2026, we will collect your food waste every week. This change is part of wider changes to our waste and recycling services as a result of the government's Simpler Recycling legislation.
Keep checking back to this page as more information will be added as we get closer to when the collections start.
Contents
How food collections will work
We’ll give you a new kerbside caddy to use for your food waste.
Your new kerbside caddy will be:
- smaller than a wheelie bin
- larger than your kitchen caddy, if you already have one
- collected every week by our crews
You don’t need to sign up. The service is at no additional cost to you, and we’ll provide everything you need before collections begin.
Using your garden bin for food waste
If you subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme, your garden bin will continue to be emptied every 2 weeks, except between mid‑December and mid‑January.
On the weeks your garden bin is collected, you can choose to:
- put your food waste in your garden bin
- leave your new kerbside food waste caddy out instead
This is because food and garden waste go to the same site to be turned into compost.
What you can recycle in your new food waste caddy
You will be able to recycle the same types of food waste in your new caddy that you currently put in your garden bin (if you subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme).
See what food waste you can recycle on the current food waste page.
You must not put garden waste in your new food caddy.
When you will receive your caddy
We’ll share more information about the start of food waste collections later this year. No changes will take place until Autumn 2026.
Before collections begin, you will receive a new 23‑litre kerbside food waste caddy at your property. Inside the caddy, you’ll find information about how the service works and what you need to do.
You will also receive a sticker for the top of your caddy. This will explain what can and can’t be put in it and includes space to write your property number to help prevent it from being misplaced.
What happens to the food waste
Food waste, along with garden waste, is taken to our state-of-the-art facility in Leighton, Crewe where it’s turned into compost for use in agriculture and horticulture. This means that the food waste you recycle has a whole new life supporting farmers and others to grow crops and flowers! Find out more about how we compost your food and garden waste.
If you live in a flat or shared housing
Residents in flats or shared accommodation will also receive the food waste collection service.
We will assess bin capacity and collection arrangements for each building to make sure the service is suitable and accessible.
Depending on the property, this may involve:
- a kerbside food waste caddy for each individual flat.
- a communal 140-litre food waste bin shared between residents.
We’ll let you know before the service goes live and provide you with the information you’ll need to benefit from it.
If you need help to put your caddy out
If you already receive an assisted collection, this will continue automatically for your new kerbside food waste caddy.
A full 23-litre caddy typically weighs around 12kg, which is similar to a full black bin bag. If you do not have a neighbour, family member, or friend who can help you move your bin, you can apply for assisted collection.
How weekly food waste collections help reduce pest problems
Weekly food waste collections are not expected to increase problems with pests such as rats or foxes.
Food waste should be placed in your kerbside caddy, which has a secure locking lid to keep animals out. Because less food waste will be stored in black bins, and because food waste will be collected every week, the risk of attracting pests is expected to reduce.
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Page last reviewed: 26 February 2026
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