From Monday 6 April 2026 we will be introducing a new weekly food waste collection service.
The Environment Act 2021 and the Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms require local authorities to provide all households with a new, separate weekly food waste collection service from 31 March 2026. Wyre Council collections are due to commence on 6 April 2026 alongside our existing waste and recycling collections.
We will collect your food waste weekly on the same day as we collect your other waste and recycling.
We will provide you with:
• A 5L kitchen caddy.
• Two rolls of liners to line the caddy
• A 23L outside food waste bin which we will empty weekly.
How to get started
It’s easy to join in with the new food waste collection service by following the simple steps below:
1. Put a liner in your kitchen caddy then put your loose food waste in it.
2. When full, remove the liner, tie the top and put it in your outdoor food waste collection bin.
3. Please put your food waste out for collection by 7am every week on your normal collection day.
Why collect food waste separately?
• Your household bin will be cleaner and less full as we will provide you with a weekly collection.
• Food waste that is reprocessed by anaerobic digestion can be converted into compost-like material for land cover or converted into natural forms of energy which are a good alternative to fossil fuels.
• Food waste that is sent to landfill doesn’t harmlessly breakdown. It has a big impact on the environment as it rots and releases methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide and contributes towards climate change.
• As food waste is 70% water, sending food waste for incineration requires more energy to burn so recycling is a more efficient method of disposal.
What happens to the food waste once collected?
We collect your food waste and turn it into a valuable resource through the process of anaerobic digestion to create green energy, an excellent alternative to fossil fuels.
Zero Waste Cooking
Got Leftovers? Get Inspired!
Don’t let good food go to waste. Discover creative and delicious ways to turn your leftovers into mouth-watering meals.
Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/foods-and-recipes for recipes, tips, and ideas to make the most of every bite.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Please read our FAQs to find out more about your food waste collection
What goes in the food waste bin?
- Any uneaten food and plate scrapings
- Out of date or mouldy food
- Bread and pastries (including crusts)
- Fruit and vegetables (including peelings)
- Meat and fish (including bones)
- Eggs and eggshells
- Tea bags and loose coffee grounds
No liquids or packaging please.
Why should I recycle Food Waste?
Food waste that is sent to landfill doesn’t harmlessly break down. It has a big impact on the environment as it rots and releases methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. As food waste is 70% water, sending food waste for incineration requires more energy to burn, so recycling is a more efficient method of disposal.
What if I don’t produce any Food Waste?
Remember there is no amount too small. The best thing we can do with our food is enjoy it, but some waste like banana skins, tea bags and bones are unavoidable and can all be recycled.
Will the food in my bin smell?
Not if you empty your kitchen caddy regularly into the outside food waste bin and tie up the liners. Your outside food waste bin has a sealable and lockable lid which will stop smells escaping.
I don’t have space for the caddy – what should I do?
A lot of people find that keeping it under the sink, next to the kitchen bin or on the worktop is practical. Remember you can use your own container if you prefer something more stylish or if this fits better in your kitchen.
What does anaerobic digestion mean?
This process uses microorganisms to break down food waste in the absence of oxygen, inside a closed system. As it breaks down it gives off methane, which is collected and converted into green energy, an excellent alternative to fossil fuels.
What will happen to all the plastic liners used to collect the food waste? How will they be disposed of?
Wyre Council is switching to compostable caddy liners instead of plastic ones for Food Waste, to help protect the environment. Although these liners can’t be processed through the Anaerobic Digestion system that treats food waste, they are removed at the start of the process using a special de-packaging system that filters out anything that doesn’t belong. The remaining food waste is then treated to reduce moisture and turned into a material called Compost-Like Output (CLO), which can be used to improve soil.
Still have questions?
Contact communications@wyre.gov.uk and we'll be happy to help.