Throughout England, fresh regulations have been introduced regarding bin collections. They were meant to be implemented nationwide by the end of March, yet numerous councils have faced setbacks, meaning many residents are only just learning about these collections and getting their caddy waste bins for the first time.
People are heading out to retrieve their bins following collection only to find a brand new caddy for food waste. Fresh food waste legislation mandates weekly household collections across England, separate commercial food waste, and seeks to cut landfill usage.
What cannot go in the food waste caddy
Refuse collectors are cautioning residents that they cannot simply throw anything into the caddy, and should inappropriate items be found inside, it will remain uncollected. Guidance on proper usage highlights seven items that people should not put in: no packaging, oils, liquids, animal waste, bedding, flowers, and non-food items.
Residents are instructed to strip away all plastic before throwing items away. The service stated: "Incorrect items mean your bin won't be emptied."
What can go in the food waste bin
The service added: "From tea bags to plate scrapings, to meat and fish bones, no matter how small, it can be recycled through the new food waste service. Just remove any packaging, and pop it into the caddy. We can also collect non-compostable items, such as bones and skin, or cooked and uncooked meats!"
Cooked and uncooked food waste can be recycled using the service, including: meat including bones, fish and shellfish, dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, cooked and uncooked vegetables and fruit including peelings, bread, cakes and pastries, rice, pasta and beans, plate scrapings, tea bags and coffee grounds, eggshells, solid fats, pet food, and mouldy and out-of-date food.
Government explanation
Explaining the change, the government said: "Separating food waste helps reduce waste and benefits the environment through anaerobic digestion, producing energy and biofertiliser. If you don't use the service, you'll still have fortnightly general waste collections, but extra bags won't be accepted."
At the launch of the scheme, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: "We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live. Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there's more recycled content in the products we buy."
Using plastic bags as liners: a cost-saving trick
While some local councils provide complimentary biodegradable bags, many require residents to purchase their own once the initial allocation is exhausted. At roughly £2 for a pack of 20, the ongoing expense has left numerous households annoyed. Nevertheless, you may not need to purchase them whatsoever.
Darlington Borough Council (DBC) posted on Facebook to reveal a lesser-known, money-saving trick: you can line your food caddy with virtually any ordinary plastic bag, standard bin liner, or even newspaper. While it appears entirely contradictory to combine plastic with compostable food, Darlington isn't the only one. Numerous other councils including the Scottish Borders, Devon County, City of Lincoln, and Sandwell all permit standard plastic bags in their food waste bins.
DBC explained: "Did you know you can use any plastic bag, bin liner or even newspaper to line your food caddy? When you have run out of the free biodegradable liners we provided with your caddy, there are a number of things you can use."
It continued: "Thank you for all your efforts in recycling your food waste - we are collecting more tonnes of recycling each week which is all waste that is avoiding landfill. Food waste is turned into energy to power homes and businesses, fuel and fertiliser for local farms. Your waste really can do wonders!"
How does it function?
Should you opt for a standard plastic bag, it won't end up in the compost. According to the City of Lincoln Council, specialist equipment at the anaerobic digestion facilities tears open and extracts the plastic bags before the food waste undergoes processing. It clarified: "At the processing plant, the first step is to remove the bags using a specialised machine, allowing you to use any bag as a liner. After they have been removed at the anaerobic digestion plant, the bags are sent to the Energy from Waste facility, where they're used to generate energy. They would normally go there anyway in your black bin, but this way they've had a second life as a food waste liner first. Using a liner helps keep your caddy clean and makes it easier to empty, so a great option is to reuse plastic bags you already have at home."
Everyday items you can use as liners
If your local authority allows it, this means instead of buying specialised compostable bags, you can repurpose plastic packaging you already have lying around the house. According to Scottish Borders Council these include: kitchen roll or newspaper, compostable kitchen caddy liners (purchased from many local retailers and online outlets), re-use plastic bags which would otherwise be thrown out such as bread, salad or cereal bags, thin plastic bags such as sandwich bags (they don't need to be clean), carrier bags which are nearing the end of their usefulness, place food waste loose into the caddy (food waste can be placed loose into the indoor and outdoor caddy), and plastic bags such as small pedal bin liners. But it urged: "Please do not use black bin liners, or plastic tubs, pots or trays."
Check your local rules
Before you start using the Darlington Council tip, you must check your specific local authority's guidelines. Not all recycling facilities use the same processing technology. Councils such as Stockport and Rochdale have very strict rules that forbid standard plastic and require only certified compostable bags. Stockport Council explicitly warns residents against using standard "biodegradable" supermarket bags, noting that they do not compost and instead just break down into harmful microplastics. Some, such as Middlesbrough Council and Stockton Council, do not allow normal or plastic bags but will replace the liners free of charge.
