From the end of March, every household in England is to receive a weekly collection of food waste under the Government’s simplified recycling reforms.
The government says the changes will ensure the same materials are collected for recycling across the country and help simplify the system for residents.
The new rules mean there will be items you can no longer recycleand we reveal what can be stored in these food waste containers, why they are being introduced and whether councils are ready for the changes.
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Food waste collection throughout the country
Under reforms by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), all local authorities in England must provide a weekly collection of food waste from households by 31 March 2026, unless a transitional arrangement applies.
Where municipalities are first introducing the service, households will usually be provided with an indoor kitchen bin and an outdoor food waste bin to separate food waste from other rubbish.
What can go in your weekly food waste bin?
Under new reforms to simplified recycling, all households in England will be able to recycle their food waste every week.
We asked DEFRA what residents can put in their weekly food waste bin and they confirmed that it’s all allowed:
- Fruits and vegetables, including skins and cores
- Bread, rice, pasta, cereals and baked goods
- Meat, fish, dairy products and eggshells
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Dish scrapings and uneaten leftovers
- Food for pets
Some councils may allow compostable liners, but the food must be removed from the packaging before being placed in the caddy or bin.
End the ‘postcode lottery’ for recycling
The changes are part of the Government’s simplified recycling reforms, which aim to ensure the same materials are collected from households across England.
From the end of March, municipalities will have to collect food and garden waste, dry recyclable materials such as glass, metal and plastic, paper and cardboard and residual waste from kitchen bins.
Authorities say this will help simplify recycling rules and make it easier for households to know what can be recycled.
Are the tips ready for the changes?
The Government says it has provided £261.7 million in capital funding and £79.5 million in resource funding to help councils roll out the new food waste services.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “We are making over £78 billion available to councils in England this year, which includes funding for councils to introduce weekly food waste collections.
“Our simplified recycling reforms will end the postcode lottery for bin collections and help keep our streets cleaner, while enabling local authorities to continue to deliver services in the way that works best for their communities.”
Officials said more than two-thirds of municipalities are willing to provide weekly food waste collection, with more than half already providing the service.
