What goes in which bin
Food waste
From Autumn 2026, we will extend our free food waste collection service to Kettering and Wellingborough. You will receive you new caddies in August. Funding for new food waste recycling collections has been provided by the UK Government.
Food waste makes up around 30% of household waste. Recycling it can:
- free up space in your black bin
- help reduce unpleasant smells
- turn waste into a useful resource
- reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal
- benefit the environment
We process the food waste we collect locally and turn it into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for use on farmland.
Food waste caddies
We provide two types of food waste caddies:
- Silver 5-litre kitchen caddy – use this indoors to collect food waste as you prepare meals and clear plates
- Green 23-litre outdoor caddy – transfer your food waste into this larger caddy and place it out for collection each week
You do not need to bag your food waste before placing it in your caddy. If you prefer, you can wrap food waste in newspaper or use fully biodegradable liners to help keep your caddy clean. The collection caddy has a locking lid so it's secure from wild animals.
What can be recycled
We accept:
- food leftovers
- fruit and vegetable peelings, including apple cores, banana skins and cherry stones
- bread, pastries, pasta and rice
- eggshells and dairy products
- raw and cooked meat, fish and bones
- small amounts of cooking oil soaked into newspaper
- leftover pet food, including tinned and dry food
We cannot accept:
- packaging, including cardboard, foil, glass, plastic bags and containers
- garden waste
- cat litter or dog waste
- pet bedding
- liquids, except small amounts of cooking oil soaked into newspaper
Weekly collection
You food waste caddy should be placed alongside your refuse or recycling bin to be emptied every week. As food waste is collected by a separate vehicle, it may be collected at a different time.
Find out your collection day's on our bin collection checker.
What happens to food waste
The collected food waste will be processed locally at an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. AD mimics the working of a cow’s stomach with the food waste ‘digested’ in giant tanks using natural bacteria.
This results in a methane rich biogas that is captured and burned to generate electricity that is fed into the grid. A by product of this process is a rich, compost-like fertilizer that used on farmland.
Funding for new food waste recycling collections has been provided by the UK Government
Last updated 12 August 2026