New weekly food waste collections starting next month
Arun District Council is about to start weekly food waste collections for all households, as part of national Simpler Recycling reforms.
The new service will start from the week beginning 13 April 2026, following government requirements for all councils in England to provide a separate weekly food waste service.
Under the new system, residents will be able to continue recycling exactly the same materials in their existing recycling bins, with food waste collected separately using new containers starting to be delivered this month (March).
At the same time as introducing weekly food waste collections, Arun District Council will move to fortnightly general waste collections using a free 180‑litre wheeled bin for most properties. This update is designed to encourage greater use of the new food waste service and the existing fortnightly dry mixed recycling collections.
Analysis across Arun and West Sussex shows that around 40% of general waste is food waste, meaning the new scheme will help significantly reduce the amount of unnecessary rubbish being thrown away.
Each household in Arun will receive, or may have already received:
- a 5‑litre indoor kitchen caddy, with a starter roll of compostable liners
- a 23‑litre outdoor food waste bin - this is lockable to deter vermin and wildlife
- a free 180‑litre general waste bin (unless residents already have one of this size and have opted out)
Some flats and communal properties will be provided with shared outdoor general waste and food waste bins
Once collections start, residents will need to:
- place all food waste into the kitchen caddy (after removing any packaging)
- empty the caddy into the outdoor food waste bin
- present the outdoor bin by 7am on their weekly collection day
Food waste will be collected every week, while refuse and recycling collections will continue on alternating weeks. In total, residents will receive 104 collections a year (52 food waste, 26 general waste, 26 recycling), compared with 78 currently.
Items that can be recycled include - meat and bones, fish and shellfish, dairy, cooked or uncooked vegetables and peelings, fruit skins, bread, cakes, pastries, rice, pasta, beans, plate scrapings, pet food, tea bags, coffee grounds, mouldy or out‑of‑date food, and solid fats.
Food waste from Arun and across West Sussex will be taken to the anaerobic digestion plant in Horsham, where it will be turned into biofertiliser for farmland and renewable energy to power the plant, with any excess exported to the national grid.
The changes will help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill or incineration, increase recycling rates, and support the council's wider environmental aims. Research shows that when households separate their food waste, they tend to throw away less, helping reduce both costs and environmental impact.
Councillor Amanda Worne, Chair of the Environment Committee at Arun District Council, said:
“'Although this change might seem a little daunting at first, it marks a big step forward for Arun. Introducing weekly food waste collections and modernising our general waste service will help us cut the amount of food ending up in refuse, boost recycling, and make better use of the resources we all throw away. By working together and embracing the new system, residents will be helping reduce our district's environmental impact while benefiting from a cleaner and more efficient service.”
To keep up to date with your collection dates, sign up to the free Arun District Council app www.arun.gov.uk/arun-mobile-app/
Visit www.arun.gov.uk/simpler-recycling for more information about the new service.