Due to planned maintenance some of our online services are currently unavailable. We expect them to be available again by the evening of Sunday 20 September 2026. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Grey caddy with an orange lid – food waste
Even if you compost at home, we encourage all residents to use the new service to help reduce general waste and ease the transition to fortnightly collections. Home composting is not suitable for meat, bones, cooked food, or dairy. Use the food waste bin for these items.
What can I put in my food waste bin?
Cooked and uncooked food waste can be recycled using the service, including:
- meat - including bones
- fish and shellfish
- dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt
- cooked and uncooked vegetables and fruit including peelings
- bread, cakes and pastries
- rice, pasta and beans
- plate scrapings
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- eggshells
- solid fats
- pet food
- mouldy and out-of-date food
What not to put in the food waste bin
- packaging
- oils
- liquids
- animal waste
- bedding
- flowers
- non-food items.
Remove all plastic before disposal. Incorrect items mean your bin won't be emptied.
Using the service
Food waste collections are strongly encouraged but not compulsory. We are obliged to provide all households with the opportunity to recycle their food waste so must deliver the food waste bin and indoor caddy. Separating food waste helps reduce waste and benefits the environment through anaerobic digestion, producing energy and biofertiliser. If you don't use the service, you'll still have fortnightly general waste collections, and extra bags won't be accepted.
Preventing smells and pests
Weekly food waste collections and lockable bins help prevent vermin and odours. Tips:
- keep lids closed
- wrap smelly food in newspaper or compostable liners
- rinse recycling before binning
- store bins out of direct sun
- clean bins regularly
Odours
Food waste shouldn't smell if transferred from the kitchen caddy to the outside food waste bin, regularly and bins are kept closed. Do not use plastic bags and use newspaper for wrapping. Kitchen caddies and bins are easy to clean. General waste should smell less with food waste removed.