Food waste bin
Your food waste bins are for leftover food: cooked and raw.
Weekly collection: On your recycling and refuse weeks, together with all other containers collected on that week.
How to use your food waste bins:
Use for all cooked and raw leftover food. No packaging please.
Empty the kitchen caddy into the outside food waste bin and lock the lid by moving the handle to the upright or forward position. Put it out for collection every week, next to your other bins where it can be clearly seen.
If you line your kitchen caddy, use newspaper, paper bags or compostable bags (look out for the SEEDLING logo). If using compostable bags, please do not tie the top as it takes longer to compost. No plastic bags, thank you.
✔ What can go in the bins?
Dairy products (e.g. cheese)
Eggshells
Tea bags and coffee grounds
Meat, fish and bones
Bread, cakes and pastries
Rice, pasta and beans
Leftovers, including pet food
Fruit and vegetables✖ What cannot go in the bins?
- oil or liquid fat
- liquids
- packaging
- plastic bags or wrapping
What happens to the collected food waste?
The food waste is taken to a local facility where it is composted using a natural process, which means it is safe to use as a soil improver on local farmers' fields. If you already compost at home, please continue to do so. You can use your food waste collections for any food that you do not want to compost yourself.
Your questions about food waste bins answered
Collecting food waste separately means it can be processed using heat to break down the waste and kill off any bacteria so it can be composted and returned to use as a soil improver. This is a different process to the composting of garden waste.
When food waste is sent to landfill, air cannot get to the organic waste. Therefore as the waste breaks down it creates a harmful greenhouse gas, methane, which damages the Earth's atmosphere.
The food waste collection service will be rolled out at a later date to flats and properties which have communal collections.
If your property is unsuitable for wheeled bins, you can still have a food waste collection.
The 5 litre kitchen caddy is designed to be kept on a kitchen work surface or under the sink.
The 23 litre container takes up about as much space as a pair of adult size Wellington boots.
The 5 litre kitchen caddy is designed to be kept on a kitchen work surface or under the sink.
However, if you do not want to use the kitchen caddy, then you can empty your food waste directly into your 23 litre food waste bin outside.
The 23 litre container takes up about as much space as a pair of adult size Wellington boots.
If you currently receive an assisted collection, you will automatically receive it for the food waste service.
If you are having difficulty putting your bins on your boundary for collection and need assistance you can ask for help to put your bins out.
You can minimise the risk of animals or maggots getting into your bin by locking the lid of your outside food bin.
The bin can be locked by moving the handle to the forward position.
You can also help to minimise the risk by rinsing your food waste bin out after use. The food waste bin and food caddy are both dishwasher safe up to 60°C.
Please note if wet pet food is left out prior to disposal it can become a breeding ground for flies and therefore could cause maggots.
We would ask that you try the new service first to see if the 23 litre food waste bin is suitable for your needs.