Food recycling collections for kerb-side properties

I’m already receiving a weekly food collection service, is this something different?

If you live in Leyton or Leytonstone, you may already be receiving a separate weekly food waste collections as your road was part of the weekly food waste pilot.

Why are we rolling out a new weekly food recycling collection service?

By March 2026 all Councils must collect food waste separately, from residential properties. It is also part of the Council’s Mission to become a net zero borough. Approximately 26% of the waste in the average household bin is food waste, which generates harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Your food waste will be sent to a plant, which will create biogas (a renewable energy source) and fertiliser to be used on farmland to grow more food. 

A recent analysis of residents’ waste showed us that there is 33% organic material in residents’ refuse bins which could be separated out to be recycled. If all residents recycled their food waste, this would make a big contribution to tackling the climate emergency.

I'd like more information on weekly food recycling collections

Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) has put together a report on household food waste collections that have been carried out across the UK. The report states the majority of households produce large quantities of waste food which predominantly ends up in the refuse bin. The type of collection (food and garden combined or food only collection) and the frequency of a collection (weekly or fortnightly) have an influence on the amount of food waste collected by a local authority.

Read the Food and Waste Collections Guide on the WRAP website.

When will I receive my caddies and when will collections start? 

Households in the borough (other than communal properties) have received all the equipment needed to begin food waste recycling.

If you do require equipment, you can request replacements or missing equipment through your My Account

Kerb-side collections will be on the same day as residents’ current two-wheeled bin collection day. You can check the current collection day by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. 

The equipment consist of a brown 23-litre outdoor lockable food waste caddy, a brown 5-litre indoor caddy for the kitchen and a roll of compostable liners to line the kitchen caddy. 

How do I recycle my food waste? 

The kitchen caddy can be stored inside the home. Line the kitchen caddy with the compostable liner and you can start putting your food waste inside. For a list of items you can and can’t recycle in your food waste caddies, head to this page. 

When the kitchen caddy is about half to three-quarters full; tie a knot in the bag and place the full caddy liner into the outdoor food waste caddy.

Present the outdoor food waste caddy at the front boundary of your property beside the two-wheeled bins, and it will be emptied on the scheduled bin collection day on a weekly basis.

Do the Council have a statutory duty to collect food waste?

Yes, by March 2026 all Councils must collect food waste separately, from residential properties.

Do I still use the brown two wheeled bin once the food waste collections commence? 

Yes – brown two wheeled bins will still be collected on a fortnightly basis but will only collect garden waste (not food and garden waste as it was previously).  Please do not put food waste into the brown two wheeled bin once the new food waste collections start at your property.

This is because food waste and garden waste will now be recycled separately. Garden waste will be composted, while food waste is sent to an Anaerobic Digestion plant where it's turned into renewable energy to power homes and it also produces a biofertiliser used to grow crops. Contaminating your garden waste bin with food waste will mean we are not able to recycle this properly, so please use the outdoor food waste caddy instead.

Will you be providing compostable caddy liners to put in the food waste caddy free of charge?

Yes, you will be provided with a roll of liners with your equipment pack and additional rolls will then be delivered to your property to ensure you can still recycle food waste.

What happens to the food waste?

This is sent to an Anaerobic Digestion plant in South East England where it’s turned into renewable energy to power homes and also a biofertiliser used for crop growing. Anaerobic Digestion is a process whereby food waste is broken down in a sealed tank by the absence of oxygen. This creates biogas which is used to heat and power homes, what’s left from the process is a nutrient-rich biofertiliser.

Can I put compostable packaging in my outdoor food waste caddy, indoor food waste caddy, garden waste bin or recycling bin?

Compostable packaging such as Vegware, packing peanuts and coffee cups cannot be recycled or composted. Therefore, you need to put this into the black refuse bin so that it does not contaminate the recycling or any of the organic collections. Compostable plastic is made from renewable materials such a soy protein or vegetable starch and this cannot be processed by the facilities.

Can I have more than one kitchen caddy and an outside caddy? Are you providing these free of charge?

Additional kitchen caddies are available upon request through your My Account and once first phase of roll out of equipment is complete; outdoor food waste caddy will be available to order online as well.

Why is the outdoor food waste caddy smaller in size compared to the two wheeled bins?

The size and amount of garden waste people tend to recycle requires a larger container to accommodate the material. The food waste caddy is smaller as this is easier for residents to transport in and out of their home.

What do I do if the kitchen caddy or the outdoor food waste caddy /caddies is damaged or is stolen? 

You can report this via your My Account and we will replace your caddy free of charge.

I produce lots of food waste. Can I order a second outdoor food waste caddy?

We would encourage every household to try and reduce the amount of food waste they create, so please do try and use whatever food you can before putting it in your food caddy. 

Can I put bones in the food waste caddies? 

Yes, raw or cooked bones can go in either of the food waste containers.

Can I put tissues or kitchen towels in the food waste caddies?

No, only use compostable food waste liners to line the kitchen caddies

Will this new food waste caddy attract vermin?

No, the handle on the outdoor food waste caddy acts like a lock so that the caddy can be securely closed. To lock the outdoor caddy; start by rotating the handle to the back of the caddy (where the hinges are); close the caddy’s lid and place your hand firmly on the lid to ensure the tabs are flat and the lid is securely in place. Then rotate forward the handle over the caddy to sit at a 90-degree angle which is the locked position. 

Will these new food waste caddies smell?

You can wash out caddies and by ensuring that your indoor caddy is emptied into your outdoor caddy regularly, this will mitigate potential smells. We would strongly advised that you ensure any food is cooled before placing in the caddies.

Where should the outdoor food waste caddy be presented for collection? 

The outdoor food waste caddy should be presented for collection by the front boundary of the property alongside the existing two wheeled bins.

How regularly will my food waste be collected?

The outdoor food waste caddy will be collected weekly.

If I already receive a supported collection, will I automatically receive a supported collection of the food waste?

Yes, your property will automatically be enrolled.

What can I do if I am unable to present the outdoor food waste caddy for collection at the front boundary?

You can apply for the supported caddy collection service via your My Account.

Can I still recycle garden waste?

You can still recycle garden waste by using the standard or large brown garden waste two wheeled bin. 

Can I put garden waste in either of the new food waste containers?

No, you can’t. Please only place food waste into the food waste containers.

Can I still put food waste in my brown bin?

No, please do not put food waste in your garden waste bin as food waste and garden waste will be processed in very different ways and can no longer be mixed.

Why should I recycle my food waste?

A recent analysis of residents’ waste showed us that there is 33% organic material in residents’ refuse bins which could be separated out to be recycled. If all residents recycled their food waste, this would make a big contribution to tackling the climate emergency. Recycling food waste can help residents to reduce food waste and save themselves some money.

Why is the separate food waste collection preferable to using the brown mixed food and garden waste bin?

It is easier for residents to separate their food waste and present it for collection in the outdoor caddy on a weekly basis. The smaller container allows residents to wash this out more easily and choose where to store it at their own convenience making it a more flexible option.

What happens to the food waste that is collected? 

The food waste is taken to the Eco Park in Edmonton; where all of the food waste collected is bulked together and then it is sent on to an Anaerobic Digestion plant in South East England. It is at this plant; where the food waste is turned into renewable energy to power homes and a biofertiliser used for crop growing. Anaerobic Digestion is a process whereby food waste is broken down in a sealed tank by the absence of oxygen. This creates a biogas which is used to heat and power homes, what’s left from the process is a nutrient rich biofertiliser.

What happens to the garden waste that is collected?

The garden waste is bulked together at the Eco park in Edmonton and then is taken to an in-vessel composting facility to be processed. 

Will we have more traffic on our roads as a result of this weekly collection?

The vehicles collecting the food waste are a third the size of the usual dustcarts and therefore are able to navigate their way around collections without causing any additional disruption.

How do I arrange the returning of the food waste containers provided as I will not use the new service?  

You can arrange this by emailing recyclingteam@walthamforest.gov.uk. Please ensure your full address when you email and confirm that the containers are at the front of the property ready for collection.