Food Waste FAQs

Food waste collection is an important part of increasing the amount of waste we recycle, reducing our impact on the environment and helping to tackle climate change.  All councils in England must provide households with food waste collections from April 2026. 

Containers are due to be delivered beginning 12 January 2026. Please do not use these until your April collection has commenced. 

Letters will be sent out in March and April to confirm when collections start. Please look out for this. Collections will be updated on the website as the service begins

To use the service, simply line your caddy with a compostable liner and put your food waste into it.  When it is full, tie the liner and place it in your outside container.  Please ensure your outside container is presented at your usual collection point by 7am.  Please do not present your kitchen caddy for collection

Our waste collection contractor, Biffa, will collect your food waste weekly. This is the same provider that collects your rubbish and recycling on our behalf. Your food waste might be collected on a different day to your rubbish and recycling, which will remain as currently scheduled. 

No. We are required to provide every household with the service.  Food waste makes up about 30% of the average household bin and can be easily recycled including all uneaten food and plate scrapings, meat bones, tea bags, coffee grounds and fruit cores, so we encourage you to make use of the new service.

Food waste collections will be weekly. Collections will be on the same day each week except over the Christmas and New Year period.

No. The launch of this service does not impact your other collection services. 

We are currently issuing every home with one 5L kitchen caddy.  (270mm wide x 192mm deep x 210mm high) You will either be provided with a 23L outside food container,(320mm wide x 400mm deep x 410mm high)  or a 140L food wheelie bin for communal areas.  Please do not present your kitchen caddy for collection.

The kitchen caddy is only 5L and designed to be kept on a kitchen work surface or under the sink. You could always use your own smaller container with a compostable liner to keep food waste in before transferring it to the outside container.

Please only start to use your caddy the week before your first collection is due to take place. This is so you are not left with food waste in your caddy for longer than needed. We will write to residents to tell you your collection day. This information will also be available on our website.

All your raw and cooked food waste, including:

All uneaten food and plate scrapings, dairy products (except liquids), cheese, eggs, bread, cakes, pastries, meat, bones, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit, vegetables, peelings, fish, bones, rice, pasta, beans. Remember, you can also put your mouldy and out of date food (without packaging) in your kitchen caddy.

There is no amount too small. Some waste like banana skins, tea bags and plate scrapings are inevitable. These can all go in your kitchen caddy.

Where residents share communal bins, a food wheelie bin with a special lid will be provided. If you have individual bins in a bin store and there is enough space, you will be given your own outside caddy.

The Government has provided additional funding for the new service. 

When food waste is sent to Veolia’s composting facility, it’s put inside a big, sealed container. Inside, air is pumped in and the waste is mixed around to help tiny microbes break it down. As they work, the container gets hot enough to kill off any harmful germs or weed seeds. Because it’s all enclosed, smells stay inside and everything breaks down faster. After a few weeks, the waste turns into soil conditioner that can be used to help plants grow. It is then used on local farms, and you can also buy it from local Household Waste Recycling Sites (tip) in East Sussex called Pro-Grow

We have some simple ways to keep your caddy fresh and odour-free: 

• Keep the lid closed on your kitchen caddy to trap any odours and keep flies out. 

• Line your kitchen caddy with compostable bags to contain moisture and keep it clean.  You must present your food waste in a liner in your outside container. 

• Add citrus peels or baking soda to neutralise smells naturally. 

• Clean your caddy with warm soapy water and a splash of lemon or vinegar for freshness. Kitchen caddies are also dishwasher safe up to 60°C.  Your outside container can be washed with water outside. 

• Place your caddy in a cool, shaded spot (away from radiators or direct sunlight), this slows decomposition and keeps smells at bay. With weekly collections, food waste doesn’t stay with you for long. 

This should only be an issue if the outside caddy is not properly secured. When you place it out for collection, please ensure you leave the handle in the locked position (pointing down at the front).  Please do not leave the handle in the carry position. When it is secured, it is difficult for any animals to access the caddy. If you use a communal bin, the lid should be closed in the usual way. 

By using your caddy, you will reduce the amount of rubbish in your bin. Food waste makes up about 30% of the average household bin and can be easily recycled. We’d therefore advise that you no longer place food waste in your rubbish bin. 

No. We are only able to collect food waste contained in the approved compostable liners with the seedling logo on.

We provide all residents with a starter pack of compostable liners. When you run out, you can buy more from most supermarkets and online retailers.  Look out for the seedling logo to ensure you have the approved bags for food waste.