Food Waste Recycling Collections

Coming Summer 2026

Starting June 2026, we're launching new food waste recycling collections to help you recycle more and waste less.

New service to meet new food waste legislation: Fully funded by Government, so no strain on local taxpayers.
Completely free: You'll receive a kitchen caddy and a small outdoor bin which will be collected on the same day as your blue and green bins - at no extra cost to you.
Weekly collections: You'll have more space in your green bin and fewer smells from rotting food too!
Good for the environment: Instead of being sent to landfill, your food waste will be recycled into clean, green energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for farmers.
Optional service: We're confident you'll enjoy the benefits, but you don't have to use the service if you don't want to.

We will provide you with:

An indoor caddy to collect food waste in your kitchen
A roll of liners to line your kitchen caddy with
A small outdoor food waste bin to transfer your food waste into

Your kitchen caddy and outdoor bin will be delivered from May 2026, ready for the collections to begin in June 2026.

Your outdoor bin will be emptied by our collection crews every week, on the same day as your current blue and green bin collections.

We'll provide lots more details closer to the time. Please check back on this page and like Fenland District Council on Facebook for updates.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Please read our FAQs below to find out more about your food waste recycling collection.

If your question isn't answered here, please get in touch - we'll be happy to help and will get back to you as soon as possible. Call 01354 654321 or email foodwaste@fenland.gov.uk

Why are we introducing food waste recycling collections?

These collections are being introduced and funded by the government in line with new legislation, which requires all councils in England to provide free weekly food waste collections for households.

When do the food waste recycling collections start?

The start of your food waste recycling collections will depend on whether you live in a kerbside property or a communal flat property:

Kerbside property: Your collections will start week commencing Monday 1 June 2026. You will receive your new food waste containers between 1 May - 29 May 2026, together with simple instructions on how to use them.
Communal flat property: We anticipate launching food waste collections for communal flat properties in Winter 2026. We'll let you know exact dates nearer the time.

How often will my food waste be collected?

Your food waste will be collected weekly, on the same day as your current blue and green bin collections. You can check your bin collection days using our online postcode tool or on the 'Fenland Bin' app.

When can I start using my food waste caddy?

We recommend you start using your caddy the week before your first collection date.

Will it cost me anything to take part in the service?

No, it's completely free. It will be a part of your regular waste and recycling service, at no extra cost to you. The service is fully funded by Government, so there's no strain on local taxpayers.

What can and can't be recycled in my food waste bin?

All food waste can be recycled, both cooked and uncooked:

Yes please:

Fruit and vegetables (including peelings and stones)
All uneaten food and plate scrapings
All food scraps (including eggshells, bread, rice and pasta)
All cooked and uncooked meat and fish (including bones)
All dairy foods (such as cheese, eggs, yogurt)
Teabags and coffee grounds
Pet food

No thank you:

No liquids (such as milk, oil)
No pet waste or litter
No garden waste or soil
No nappies or sanitary products
No plastics, metals
No batteries, vapes or similar

These items can contaminate the food waste and cause problems during the recycling process. Keeping your food waste bin free from non-food items helps ensure everything is recycled properly and safely.

Why should I recycle my food waste? What are the benefits?

Weekly collections = fewer smells: With food waste collected weekly and dedicated food waste bins, there's less chance of smelly food sitting in your green bin for longer periods. It's a simple way to keep your kitchen and bins cleaner and fresher.

More space in your green bin: Food waste makes up 37% of the waste in Fenland's household bins. Diverting food waste from your green bin and recycling it means more room in your bin for everything else.

Good for the environment: Food waste sent to landfill rots and releases methane - a harmful greenhouse gas which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide! And as food waste is 70% water, sending it to energy from waste plants also requires more energy to burn. Recycling food waste is the greenest method of disposal.

It's recycled into clean, green energy: Food waste is recycled into gas or electricity for the national grid through a process called Anaerobic Digestion. One tonne of food waste can generate around 300kWh of electricity. A single recycled banana peel can generate enough electricity to fully charge your smartphone, twice! It also creates a nutrient-rich fertiliser as a by-product for local farmers.

Did you know? By diverting food waste from landfill and recycling it, the average household in the UK can save around 148kg of CO2 emissions in a year, which is the equivalent of driving roughly 645 miles in an average petrol car. If every household in Fenland sorted their food waste, the total emissions savings would be equivalent to taking several million car-miles off the roads!

What does Anaerobic Digestion mean?

This process uses microorganisms to break down food waste in the absence of oxygen, inside an enclosed system. As it breaks down it gives off methane, which is collected and converted into biogas and used to generate electricity, heat or transport fuels. It also creates a nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land regeneration.

How big are the food waste bins?

You will receive two food waste containers: A 5-litre indoor caddy to collect food waste in the kitchen and a 23-litre outdoor food waste bin to transfer your food waste into. The outdoor bin will be emptied each week by our collection staff.

Do I have to take part in the food waste recycling collections?

No, taking part is entirely optional. If food waste recycling suits your household, we encourage you to give it a try. We've made it simple and convenient, and we're confident residents will enjoy the benefits. Just follow the instructions provided with your bins, and we'll take care of the rest.

Do I have to use a liner in my kitchen food waste caddy?

The liners help keep your caddy clean and make it easier for you and our collection staff to empty, but you don't have to use a liner if you don't want to. You can put food straight into your food waste caddy.

If you do want to use a liner, you can use any of the following:

Caddy liners (available from us or the supermarket)
Plastic bags or carrier bags
Old bread bags, cereal bags, or similar
Newspaper or paper bags

All of these are accepted, because they are removed at the processing facility before the food is recycled.

What if I don't produce enough food waste to use the service?

Some people have more food waste than others. However, it is likely that everyone, at some point, will have some food waste. Some waste like banana skins, eggshells, teabags, and bones is unavoidable and can all be recycled.

I have a large family and have lots of food waste, can I get an additional outdoor food waste bin?

Yes, additional outdoor food waste bins will be available for a small delivery fee. We'll share details of how you can order one nearer the time.

I don't have space for the kitchen caddy, what should I do?

You may find that keeping the caddy under the sink, next to the kitchen bin or on the work top is practical. Remember you can use your own container if you prefer something that fits better in your kitchen.

Will the outdoor food waste bin attract vermin?

Recycling food waste using the containers provided should in fact help reduce the risk of pests. The new weekly collections mean food waste is removed more often, preventing smells and reducing the chance of attracting vermin. The outdoor food waste bin also comes with a secure, lockable lid to keep pests out and your waste contained safely.

I have an Assisted Bin Collection - do I need to do anything differently with the outdoor food waste bin?

No, you don't need to do anything different. If you're able to put your outdoor food waste bin out for collection and would like to, please do so.

If your food waste bin isn't out, our collection crews will look for it in its usual place near your other bins as part of your Assisted Bin Collection service.

I run a small home business, can I use the food waste service?

If you run a small business from home that produces excess waste, you can arrange for additional waste containers from our Trade Waste and Recycling Service.

Find out more at: Trade Waste and Recycling Service

Do businesses have to recycle their food waste too?

Yes. Under new government legislation, all businesses in England will be required to recycle their food waste.

From March 2025, businesses must separate food waste and dry recyclables from general waste and arrange for the appropriate collection of each waste stream. Businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees (known as micro-firms) are exempt from this legislation until March 2027.

Fenland District Council offers a competitive Trade Waste and Recycling Service that includes separate collections for Mixed Dry Recycling (MDR), Food Waste, and General Waste - helping your business stay compliant and environmentally responsible.

Find out more at: Trade Waste and Recycling Service

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Food Waste Recycling Collections

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)