What is food waste?

  • We all have food waste of some kind.  It could be stuff we don’t eat like eggshells and vegetables peelings, or food that’s gone off, like mouldy bread. Food waste is a valuable resource and can be recycled at home.

    All of this stuff goes in your food bin: 

    🍎 Fruit cores and stones
    🥕 Vegetable peelings
    ☕ Tea bags and coffee grounds
    🦴 Meat bones
    🐟 Fish skin and bones
    🧀 Mouldy cheese
    🍞 Stale bread
    🥚 Eggshells
    🥡️ Takeaway leftovers
    🍽️ Plate scrapings

How to collect food waste

  • A small bin or caddy in your kitchen is an easy way to collect food waste before putting it in your outside bin.
    Don’t have one yet?

    1. Check if your council has sent you a caddy in the past – it might be hiding in a cupboard.

    2. Use what you have! Any box, jar or small bin can be a caddy – it just needs a lid.

    3. You can buy your own caddy from your local supermarket or homeware store. You could even get one to match your kitchen!

    4. You could order one from your local council.

Food waste where you live

Need to check when food waste is collected where you live?
Or need to order a bin? 
Your council have got you covered: 





Recycling food waste is as easy as 1,2,3!

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FAQs

What can I put in my kitchen caddy?

All part of edible and inedible food such as:

  • meat and fish – both raw and cooked (including small bones)
  • raw and cooked vegetables and fruit (including peelings, stones and nut shells)
  • all dairy products such as cheese
  • eggs, including shells
  • bread, pastries and cakes
  • cooked and uncooked pasta, rice and beans
  • teabags and coffee grounds
  • uneaten leftovers and plate scrapings
  • out-of-date food that’s been fully removed from its packaging
  • pet food
  • solidified cooking oils and fats
What things can’t go in my kitchen caddy?
  • Liquids like milk, oils and juice
  • Plastic packaging i.e. plastic packaging from veggies like cucumber, salad bags and fruit netting
  • Pots, tubs and trays containing food
Do I need to use the kitchen caddy provided by the council?

No, you can buy your own kitchen caddy from supermarkets, if you’d prefer a particular colour or style.

Can I put oil / liquids into my caddy?

No, liquids will leak or break the compostable liners. Not only will this be messy, it might also make your caddy smell. Only solid fats can be put in your caddy. Excess oil can be taken to your nearest recycling centre for recycling.

Can use a plastic bag to line my caddy?

No, only compostable liners can be used. Your food and garden waste is turned into compost. When buying compostable liners make sure it has the seedling logo on it.

Plastic bags and biodegradable bags will not breakdown if mixed into the food and garden waste spoiling the composting process.

Can I use paper to line my caddy?

No, only use compostable liners in your food caddy. Though technically compostable, materials like paper won’t break down at the same rate as your food waste which, causes problems during the composting process. 

How can I reduce smells from my caddy?
  • Line your caddy with a compostable bag.
  • Let leftover food cool completely before putting it in your caddy.
  • Always close the lid after use.
  • Don’t overload your caddy. Empty it into your outdoor caddy or food and garden bin when it’s full.
  • Empty your caddy frequently during hot weather.
  • Wash it with warm, soapy water and let it dry fully before adding a new liner.
  • Store it in a cool, dry place when it is not being used.
Do I need to use a compostable liner, or can food go in loose?

We recommend using a compostable liner because it makes food waste easier to collect and helps keep your caddy fresh. However, you can put food waste in loose if you prefer.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a caddy liner, it might be better to put food waste directly in your food and garden bin.

I live in a flat, can I get a kitchen caddy?

It depends on where you live. Some flats offer food waste collections, but most of them don’t at the moment. 

You can check with your local council or speak to your building manager about whether it’s possible to start collecting food waste where you live. 

If I collect food waste will it attract wildlife?

Your outdoor caddy and bin have a secure lid which makes it very difficult for foxes or squirrels to get in. Make sure you lock your caddy or close your bin lid after placing food inside. 

I don’t have a food waste collection, what should I do with my food?

If you don’t have a food waste collection service your food waste should go in the general waste bin.

Alternatively, if you have a garden you can try home composting. For smaller houses or flats you could try a bokashi bin. Learn more about compost.

Can I take food waste to my local tip?

No, food waste is not collected at any of our recycling centres. If you don’t have a food waste collection service you have to dispose of your food waste in your general waste bin.







COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS