Postcards about our new food waste service have begun going to homes this week. Due to the distribution method, some non-residents in postcodes that overlap with the district will receive a postcard. If you've received one and live outside the district, please recycle it.
What’s happening?
Unused food and food leftovers currently make up about 30% of what is thrown away in each household’s refuse (green) bin and being able to recycle this will significantly reduce the amount of waste sent for incineration.
It will be used to generate clean, green energy and nutrient-rich soil improver for farmers.
As part of the Environment Act 2021, food waste recycling is expected to be provided by all councils.
How will it work?
Weekly food waste collections will be rolled out across the district in October 2026.
Sign up to our bin updates to be notified when the service will start.
Before the start of the weekly food waste collections, you will receive a starter pack made up of an information leaflet, a small 5-litre caddy in which to collect food waste in your kitchen and a 23-litre outdoor caddy (or use of a 140-litre container if you share your outside bins with other properties).
Food waste collection day details will be released before the service begins. Sign up to our bin updates to find out when they are available.
What are we doing now?
We’ve got the caddies, vehicles will be delivered soon and East Hampshire Norse has begun recruitment of crews to provide the service.
The next stage of the launch is getting new food waste caddies to every home in the district. Distribution will begin in mid-August and run until the end of September.
What you’ll get from us
To enable you to recycle your food waste we will provide most homes with:
- A five-litre caddy to keep in your kitchen
- A 23-litre outside food waste recycling caddy that will be emptied weekly
- Stickers to go on you internal and external caddies, and your refuse bin
People using communal bin areas will receive a kitchen caddy and access to a new (140 litre) shared bin.
Why is food waste recycling important?
Food waste can represent a third of what is put in each household's refuse bin and recycling will significantly reduce the amount sent to be burned for power. Instead, it will help generate clean, green energy via a process called Anaerobic Digestion (AD).
AD is already a valuable source of renewable electricity in the UK, contributing over 1 billion kWh of electricity to the national grid - enough to power around 3 million homes for a year from waste and organic materials. It also provides fertiliser as a byproduct to benefit local farms.
Every bit of food waste will contribute to the generation of green energy, no matter how small. For example, recycling just two tea bags can create enough electricity to fully charge a smartphone, and a full caddy provides enough energy to toast eight slices of bread.
What will go in your food waste bin?
Yes please
- All uneaten raw and cooked food and plate scrapings
- Raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Fruit and vegetables including peelings (raw or cooked), and other parts you can’t use such as pips, stones, and stalks
- Out of date or mouldy food
- Shellfish and seafood shells
- Dairy products such as cheese
- Bread, cakes, pastries
- Eggs and eggshells
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Pet food
No thanks
- Packaging of any kind (except your caddy liner)
- Glass
- Liquids such as milk, liquid fat or gravy
- Oils such as used cooking oil
- Any material that is not food waste, including cat litter, or animal faeces, pet bedding, garden waste
Your food waste questions answered
We’ve set up a page of questions and answers about the food waste service which will cover the most frequently asked questions. We’ll update them from time to time with other questions we receive.