Last updated: 30 August 2024
Next review: 30 August 2025
Later this year, we will be rolling out food waste recycling collections to our kerbside properties.
If you live in Leyton or Leytonstone, you may already be receiving separate weekly food waste collections.
When will I receive my caddy and when will collections start?
Households in South: E10, E11, E15, some parts of E17
Caddies delivered to properties from 2 September 2024, and service will begin the week beginning 23 September 2024.
Wards include: Cann Hall, Cathall, Forest, Grove Green, Lea Bridge, Leyton, Leytonstone, Markhouse, St James
Households in North: E4, some parts of E17, IG8
Caddies will be delivered to properties from 23 September, and service to begin collecting week beginning 14 October.
Wards include: Chingford Green, Endlebury, Hale End and Highams Park South, Hatch Lane and Highams Park North
If you live in the following wards, your collection day will vary depending on your road: Chapel End, Higham Hill, High Street, Hoe Street, Larkswood, Upper Walthamstow, Valley, William Morris, Wood Street
Kerbside collections will be on the same day as residents’ current collection day. You can check your current collection day by clicking on the below link.
What will I receive?
You will receive a 23 litre outdoor lockable caddy which is smaller than a standard wheelie bin, a 5 litre indoor caddy and compostable bags to line it with.
How do I recycle my food waste?
The smaller caddy can be stored inside, and we recommend putting this in the kitchen. Line the caddy with the compostable bag 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.
The larger caddy can be placed outside, next to your other bins. Empty the waste collected in the indoor caddy, including the compostable bags, into the larger caddy.
Present the caddy at the boundary of your property, in the same way you do with your other bins, and it will be emptied on your usual 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 my large brown bin?
Yes – this will still be collected on a fortnightly basis but will now only collect garden waste (not food and garden waste as it was previously).
Please do not put food waste into the large brown bin once your new collections start.
Will you be providing compostable caddy liners to put in the food waste bin free of charge?
Yes, you will be provided with a roll of liners with your caddy pack and these will then be delivered to you.
What happens to your 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 biofertilizer 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 biofertilizer.
Can I put compostable packaging in my food waste bin, 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 your refuse bin so that it does not contaminate the recycling collections. Compostable plastic is made from renewable materials such a soy protein or vegetable starch and this cannot be processed by our facilities.
Can I have more than one kitchen caddy and outside bin? Are you providing these free of charge?
Additional caddies are available upon request through your My Account
Why is the food waste caddy smaller than my other bins?
The size and amount of garden waste people tend to recycle requires a larger receptacle to do so. The food waste caddy is smaller as this is easier for residents to transport into and out of their home.
What do I do if my bin breaks or is taken?
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 caddy?
Ideally, we need every household to try and reduce the amount of food waste they have, so please do try and use whatever food you can before putting it in your food caddy. If you find you need a second caddy, you can request it through your My Account, free of charge.
Can I put bones in the food waste bin?
Yes, raw or cooked bones can go in the food waste caddy.
Can I put tissues or kitchen towel in the food waste bin?
No, caddies should be lined with compostable food waste liners.
Will this new food waste bin attract vermin?
No it won’t, the handle will ensure that the bin is secured closed so that foxes cannot get in.
Will this new food waste bin 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.
Where should the bin be presented for collection?
Your outdoor caddy should be presented with your existing wheelie bins for collection.
How regularly will my food waste be collected?
Your outdoor food waste caddy will be collected weekly, and the larger brown garden waste bin will be collected fortnightly.
If I already receive a supported collection, will I automatically receive a supported collection of the food waste?
Yes, you will automatically be enrolled.
What can I do if I am unable to present my outdoor food waste caddy for collection?
You can apply for an assisted collection via your My Account.
Can I still recycle garden waste?
You can still recycle garden waste in your regular or large brown garden waste bin.
Can I put garden waste in the food waste caddy?
No, you can’t. Please only place food waste into your outdoor caddy.
Can I still put food waste in my brown bin?
No, please do not put food waste in your garden waste bin as food 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.
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 receptacle 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?
Food waste goes to anaerobic digestion. This is a preferred option as it is a net-energy producing process. Anaerobic digestion also produces a biogas which is a clean and renewable energy source.
What happens to the garden waste that is collected?
Garden waste goes to in-vessel composting.
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.