Weekly food waste collections

Around 7,000 properties in the Leyton and Leytonstone area are currently participating in the weekly food waste collection trial. Following the success of this trial, the Council are seeking to roll out communal food waste bins and to introduce weekly food waste collections to all properties in Waltham Forest. 

Why have we been trialling a weekly food waste collection?

The most frequent request from our residents about our refuse and recycling service is to have weekly food waste collections. We were hoping that this would encourage residents to stop putting food waste in the black refuse bin. Other neighbouring London boroughs, such as Hackney and Haringey, have a weekly food waste collection service.

Using the lessons from the initial food waste trial and the current roll out, we aim to have introduced combined food waste collections for all communal blocks, houses, and schools by April 2025. This commitment was confirmed by cabinet on 5th October 2023 as per the following minutes. To find this information please click here: Cabinet Minutes

National government policy on weekly food waste collection has changed as of from 21st October 2023: DEFRA Press Release

What information is available on food waste collection services?

Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) has put together a report on household food waste collections that have been carried out in the UK. The report states the majority of households produce large quantities of waste food which predominantly ends up in the refuse bin. The type of collection (food and garden combined or food only collection) and the frequency of a collection (weekly or fortnightly) have an influence on the amount of food waste collected by a local authority.

Read the Food and Waste Collections Guide on the WRAP website.

How do I know if I am part of the weekly food waste trial?

Properties that are part of the trial have an outdoor brown food waste bin to present their food waste in to be collected by the food waste collection crew. Please take a look at the list of the roads below that are participating in the weekly trial.

What equipment was given to properties?

Each property that is part of the trial was given a brown kitchen caddy (5 litre) to keep indoors, a brown outdoor food waste bin (23 litre) and a roll of compostable liners. There is an additional delivery of compostable liners periodically.

What if I need a replacement container? 

If you need a replacement kitchen caddy please request this online via the bin request form

If the outdoor food waste bin becomes damaged or lost or you would like an additional one, you can request a new one by email to wasteteam@walthamforest.gov.uk ensuring to include your address in your request.

What is the difference between this service and what is already in place across the rest of the borough?

Most other properties in the borough have access to a brown food and garden waste two wheeled bin (these can be standard or large in size) which are collected on a fortnightly basis. In these brown bins residents can place both food and garden waste together to be composted.

With the food waste trial, properties are given an outdoor bin which is smaller compared to the brown two wheeled bin; only food waste should be placed in this outdoor bin and it will be collected on a weekly basis when presented at the front boundary for collection.

What can I put in the kitchen caddy and outdoor food waste bin?

You can place any uneaten or unwanted food inside the kitchen caddy such as:

• bread and cakes
• dairy products (such as cheese and yoghurt)
• eggs and egg shells
• fruit and vegetable peelings
• pasta and rice
• meat and fish (cooked/uncooked, including bones)
• out-of-date food
• tea bags and coffee granules

Is there anything I shouldn't put in the kitchen caddy or outdoor food waste bin?

• Any food or drink packaging
• Flowers
• Any liquids

Incorrect items placed in the outdoor food waste bin will result in the outdoor food waste bin not being emptied on the scheduled collection day.

When will the food waste be collected?

The food waste will be collected every week on the same day that the refuse and recycling two wheeled bins are collected but by a different collection crew. Please ensure the outdoor food waste bin is presented for collection by the front boundary of your property beside the two wheeled bins.

What do I do if the outdoor food waste bin has been not collected?

You can report a missed food waste collection to the Council online. If there is a reason for non-collection of your food waste bin; you can find this reason online. Please report missed food waste collections to the Council within three days of the scheduled bin collection here.

Do I need to use liners in the kitchen caddy?

Liners keep kitchen caddies cleaner and reduce any odours. However, you do not need to use them for us to collect your food waste.

If you wish to use compostable liners please ensure they have the composting seedling logo on them – see below:

Compostable seedling logo

What should I do with garden waste?

Continue to use the brown two wheeled bin to place your garden waste inside of it to ensure it is composted. This will continue to be collected fortnightly basis on the normal scheduled brown two wheeled bin collection day. You can put the following in the brown two wheeled bin:

• grass cuttings
• flowers
• hedge trimmings
• leaves
• plants
• weeds

Can I still use the brown two wheeled bin to place food waste in?

Yes, however try and use the outdoor food waste bin as much as possible for your food waste in during the trial. We want the trial to continue to be a success and we need all of your food waste. There should be enough space in the outdoor food waste bin with a weekly collection. 

I'm happy using the current service, why should I separate my food waste?

We'll use the information gathered from this trial to plan potential service changes for the future of the borough. Please try to use the service we are providing for the trial as we want it be a success. 

Top tips for recycling food waste

• Use the compostable liners – it keeps the kitchen caddy cleaner
• Start off by recycling used tea bags, fruit and vegetable peelings and uneaten food
• Ensure cooked food is cooled down before you put it in the caddy
• Tie a knot in the compostable liner before placing in the outdoor food waste bin – it will keep the outdoor food waste bin cleaner
• Empty the kitchen caddy often into the outdoor food waste bin