Your food recycling service

How to recycle your food

First of all, you will need an indoor and outdoor caddy. Place a liner in your indoor caddy and put unwanted food inside. Once full, tie the liner and move into your outdoor caddy, ready for your weekly collection.

Liners aren’t always necessary for your food recycling caddy but some people prefer to use them to keep their bin cleaner.

To order a new or replacement food caddy, please visit your local council's website.

What goes in your food recycling

All foods can be put in your food recycling caddy including:

meat, fish and shellfish (raw or cooked, including bones)
teabags and coffee grounds
fruit, vegetables and their peel (raw or cooked)
uneaten food from plates or dishes
eggshells
mouldy / out of date food

What cannot be put in your food recycling

Anything that isn't food such as:

packaging of any kind
liquids such as milk, oils, liquid fats
pet waste

Top tip

Store your food caddies out of direct sunlight. Remember to keep your outdoor caddy locked shut so you don’t attract any unwanted pests.

Collections and replacement caddies

To find out more information about your food recycling service, please visit your local council’s website. You can learn what can and cannot be put in your caddy, and what time to present your food recycling for collection. You will also be able to order a replacement caddy if yours has been lost or broken.

*Please note, for residents living in Rochford and Epping Forest, separate food caddies are not provided for residents. Instead, food can be recycled using your mixed garden and food waste bins.