Order food waste containers
Each house should have a small (5 litre) food waste caddy for the kitchen plus a larger (25 litre) food waste storage box for collection by the Council.
Food waste caddy (5 litre)
How to use your food caddy:
- Use this caddy to store all your solid food waste in your kitchen
- Empty the caddy into your larger food waste storage box whenever and as often as you like
- You don't have to use the Council caddy, you can store your food waste in any container of your choice. You can choose a design and/or colour of your choice at most homeware stores and online retailers or just use an old ice cream tub
- All food waste for collection must be presented in the larger food waste box provided.
Food waste storage box (25 litre)
How to use your food waste storage box:
- This box is intended to be kept outside
- Present it for collection in a visible position just inside the front entrance to your property by 6am on collection day
- Only place bins on the pavement if you don't have a front garden
- Leave the handle in the upright position to secure the lid and deter scavenging animals
Using caddy liners
It is best for the environment to not use liners at all, as it avoids the impacts associated with liner production and helps ensure that only food waste gets processed. But, liners can help keep you food recycling bins clean and odour free.
Compostable starch liners are recommended, but you can use old newspaper or paper bags if you prefer.
Do not use any other liner (such as plastic bags or kitchen roll) as it can disrupt the food recycling process.
Compostable starch liners
These liners are made of corn or potato starch. They resemble a plastic bag but will biodegrade completely in as few as 30 days in a controlled commercial process.
When purchasing liners, ensure they are marked as conforming to composting standard EN13432. Liners that conform to this standard should display the logo below.
Suitable starch bags are usually marketed as compostable. Please be aware that some bags sold as biodegradable may not be made of starch, be compostable or compost fast enough. These will not be marked with the EN13432 standard.
Using old newspaper or paper bags
You can line your caddy/bin with, or directly wrap food scraps in newspaper or a paper bag. This helps to keep the box clean and the newspaper will be recycled with the food.
Paper bag liners must be uncoated/unlined and without a clear plastic strip.
Up to: Food waste recycling
Updated: 04 March 2021
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