Four easy steps to get started with food recycling at home:
If you don’t have one already, you can request one from Braintree District Council.
If you don’t have room for an internal food caddy, use a small container with a lid (like an old ice cream tub).
You don’t have to use a liner, but some people prefer to. These are available at most supermarkets. As an alternative, you could use a plastic or paper bag or use newspaper to line your caddy.
If possible, keep your internal food caddy out of direct sunlight, for example under your sink.
Start collecting any food you'd normally put in the grey bin and collect it in your internal food caddy instead.
Add all your food scraps, from peelings to plate scrapings. All food can be put in your food caddy. If you’re unsure about what you can and cannot put in your caddy, please check the information below.
| Accepted in your food recycling | Not accepted in your food recycling |
| Meat, fish and shellfish (raw or cooked, including bones) | Packaging of any kind |
| Teabags and coffee grounds | Liquids such as milk, oils, liquid fats |
| Fruit, vegetables and their peel (raw or cooked) | Pet waste |
| Mouldy / out of date food | |
| Uneaten food from plates or dishes |
Remove any packaging first. Rinse the container and place it in the appropriate recycling bin (don’t put the container in the food caddy).
If you are using a liner or bag, tie the top of the bag and place it in your external food caddy. Alternatively, carefully tip the contents into the caddy.
Remember to lock your external food caddy shut to avoid any unwanted pests. It will lock by moving the handle into an upright position. If your external food caddy has a button, it will lock by pushing it down securely. If the lock is broken, you can request a new one.
Food recycling is collected every week. Get rid of your food quicker, have more space and keep your grey bin fresher. Check your collection calendar to find out what day your food recycling is collected.
If your food recycling wasn’t collected, report it online or call Customer Services on 01376 552525. You can report your missed waste after 3pm on the collection date up to 12 noon on the following working day.
If you report a missed bin within this timeframe, it will be collected within two working days. Your external food caddy must be left at your normal collection point.
Try these tips:
Currently, 29% of Braintree’s grey bin waste is made up of food which could be recycled. The best thing we can do is buy the food we need and eat the food we buy. However, sometimes food waste is unavoidable. Remember, all food can be placed in your food caddies, just make sure to remove any packaging first!
When food is recycled from your external food caddy, it is turned into useful things to power our homes, and fertiliser to help plants grow.
Find out what happens to your food waste from Braintree
In 2024, Braintree District residents sent over 400 double-decker buses worth of food in weight to be recycled. This recycled food generated enough green energy to power more than 980 homes in a single year. Now it’s your turn!