Food waste collections – what you need to know

We are now rolling out weekly food waste collections.

The collections will be gradually rolled out across the whole of the Bradford District over the next few months so that everyone should have weekly food waste collections soon. Therefore, please don’t ring us to ask when your bin is coming – if you haven’t got it already, it will reach you in the next few months.

This is something all councils in the UK have to do this soon under the Government’s Simpler Recycling legislation. The Government is also helping to fund this, and recycling food waste is cheaper to process than landfill or incineration.

This new service is also absolutely free to use.

Bin and caddy

We will provide you with a small kitchen caddy, with liners, and outdoor food waste bin.

The caddy can be kept on a kitchen work top, next to your kitchen bin or under your sink. Each has a lockable lid to reduce odours and keep the contents secure from insects and other pests.

Each household will receive one roll of liners. Once this has run out, any type of bag – biodegradable or plastic - can be used as a liner or food waste can go directly into the caddy then tipped into the outdoor when full.

The external food waste bin is smaller than standard wheeled bins so there should still be space for it with your other bins. For those living in shared properties, flats, or with limited space, we will work with you to find a solution.

You will also get clear information on when your collections take place and how to use your bin and caddy.

The food waste will be collected weekly and go through a process called Anaerobic Digestion which means it is broken down by micro-organisms in a way that mimics human digestion. This enables it to be turned into Biogas, a form of renewable energy or Digestate, a nutrient-rich soil improver used on farmland.

What goes in my food waste bin?

• Leftovers - uneaten food you have scraped off your plate (stews, curries and other meals)
• Uneaten cooked and raw food
• Mouldy and out of date food
• Tea bags and coffee grounds
• Meat bones
• Raw or cooked meat and fish
• Grains and pulses, such as pasta, rice, lentils and beans
• Bread, rotis, pastries and cakes
• Ready meals that have passed their use-by date (without the packaging)
• Dairy goods such as cheese
• Eggs and eggshells
• Uneaten pet food.

No packaging, liquids, garden waste, or oil. Please continue to put packaging in the correct recycling or general waste bin, following existing guidelines.

Even if you don’t produce much food waste, still put it in your food waste bin.

If you currently use a compost bin, continue to put the same items in it:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Teabags and coffee grounds
• Garden waste
• Crushed eggshells.

Participation in food waste collections isn’t compulsory. But taking part helps reduce environmental impacts and supports your local area’s recycling goals. Even small amounts of food waste make a difference.