Charnwood Borough Council, in partnership with Serco, will begin emptying food waste caddies from outside homes starting next week. Most households have received two caddies – one for indoor use and a larger one for outdoor collection. Residents can begin using the indoor caddy immediately, with the outdoor caddies to be presented on their usual bin collection day each week. There are no changes to existing bin collection schedules.
Households have also been provided with liners for the indoor caddy, with the council set to supply replacements every six months. Cllr Anne Gray, the Council's Lead Member for Waste, Open Space and Leisure Facilities, expressed pleasure at the service's commencement. "We’ve now delivered thousands of caddy packs to properties across the borough to ensure residents have everything they need to start recycling food waste effectively," she stated. "We’ve also invested in specialist vehicles to operate the weekly collection service."
Cllr Gray highlighted the environmental benefits, noting that separating food waste will reduce the amount in black bins, cut carbon emissions, and contribute to a cleaner, greener borough. She thanked residents for their support and encouraged participation, emphasising the significant environmental advantages for communities across Charnwood.
The new service will reach approximately 75,000 households. However, around 5,000 properties with communal bin stores, including many flats and sheltered housing schemes, will join the service in 2027. The collected food waste will be processed at an anaerobic digestion facility to generate renewable energy and produce fertiliser.
Cllr Beverley Gray, the Council’s Lead Member for Climate Action and Net Zero, added, “Recycling your food waste each week is an easy way to make a positive impact on the environment and future generations. Every bit of food waste recycled helps to create renewable energy, reduce emissions and support local farmland.”
This initiative aligns with the Government's Simpler Recycling requirements for separate food waste collection across England. Residents can check their property's inclusion in the rollout and find collection information by visiting my.charnwood.gov.uk. Further details and FAQs are available at www.charnwood.gov.uk/foodwaste.
