Food waste

How you dispose of food waste depends on whether you subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme. Check where to put your food waste, what food waste you can include, and what to keep out.

What to do with your food waste

If you have a garden waste subscription

If you subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme, you can recycle your food waste in your garden bin.

We empty your garden bin every 2 weeks, except between mid‑December and mid‑January.

If you do not have a garden waste subscription

If you do not subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme, you should:

• put your food waste in your black bin, or
• compost at home

From Autumn 2026, this will change. You will need to put your food waste in your new outdoor caddy, or continue to compost it at home.

We will delivery caddies during summer 2026. Find out more about the new food waste collection and when your caddy will arrive.

Food waste you can put in your garden bin

Food waste we can recycle

You can put the following food waste in your garden bin:

• meat and fish - raw and cooked, including bones
• fruit and vegetables - raw and cooked including peelings
• uneaten food from your plates and dishes
• bread, cakes and pastries
• rice, pasta and beans
• dairy products and eggs
• tea bags (plastic-free) and coffee grounds 
• egg shells, stale bread and crusts
• leftover solid fats
• cat and dog food
• hay, straw and wood shavings (not used for pet bedding.)
• stones from fruit - for example prune stones
• compostable caddy liners – must meet the EN13432 standard

What not to put in your garden bin

Do not contaminate your food waste with anything like the following:

• plastic bags - even if they are biodegradable 
• packaging of any sort
• liquids, including oil or liquid fats
• nappy bags
• cardboard or paper
• foil or food wrap
• coffee filters and non-compostable tea bags
• cat litter or animal waste
• biodegradable face wipes

You can see where to dispose of waste on our what waste goes where page.

Kitchen food waste caddies

You can use an indoor kitchen caddy or any suitable container to collect food waste before transferring it to your garden bin (if you subscribe to the Garden Waste Recycling Scheme).

From autumn 2026, you will transfer food waste into your outdoor food caddy instead.

If you would like a kitchen caddy, a limited number are available from libraries and household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). You need to book a slot to visit a HWRC at the weekend.

Lining your food waste caddy

You do not have to line your caddy, but lining it will help keep it clean and odour free.  

You can buy compostable food waste liners from many supermarkets. You must ensure you use 100% compostable liners, usually made out of corn starch, potato starch or paper, certified as BS EN 13432 (it should say this on the packaging).

Some plastic bags are sold as biodegradable, but this does not mean they will break down quickly enough during the recycling process and will contaminate the food waste, so only use bags which carry the correct logos.

Reducing your food waste

 For tips on reducing your food waste, see our reducing food waste page. 

What happens to the waste in your garden bin

You can find out what happens to your food and garden waste on our what happens to your recycling and rubbish page.

Contact Waste and Recycling