Food waste collections – what you need to know

We are rolling out weekly food waste collections from Autumn 2026.

The collections will be gradually rolled out across the whole of the Bradford District so that everyone should have weekly food waste collections by the end of the year.

This is something all councils in the UK have to do this year 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. 

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. 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 your collection dates 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 and Digestate, a nutrient-rich fertiliser used on farmland. 

What goes in my food waste bin? 

• Leftovers — uneaten food you have scraped off your plate
• Raw and cooked vegetables, including mouldy/off produce and peelings
• Coffee grounds, tea bags and tea leaves
• Bones
• Raw or cooked meat and fish
• Grains and pulses, such as pasta, rice, lentils and beans
• Bread, pastries and cakes
• Ready meals that have passed their use-by date (without the packaging)
• Dairy goods such as cheese
• Eggs and eggshells
• Unwanted pet food left in your pet’s bowl
• Leftovers you can’t compost at home.

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.