Key facts
Why we are starting separate food waste collections
It’s not just in Lincolnshire, from March 2026, all councils in England must collect food waste separately every week as part of the Government’s plan for net zero by 2050.
In Lincolnshire, food waste currently goes in the general waste stream and is used to create energy, but this also produces greenhouse gases. Around a quarter of what we throw away is food.
By cutting down on edible food waste you can save money. Any food waste you can’t avoid will be collected separately and recycled at an anaerobic digestion plant, where it’s turned into renewable energy and fertiliser.
Getting your caddies
You will receive:
- a small five litre grey indoor countertop caddy
- a black 23 litre outdoor caddy with an orange lid to present at the kerbside each week
- an initial supply of caddy liners (liners will make the process easier and keep your caddies clean)
- information leaflet
What happens to your food waste
Your food waste is collected by council crews and taken to a local plant. There, liners are split and removed before the food is recycled. The food waste is turned into biogas, which generates energy, and fertiliser to support farming — helping cut our reliance on fossil fuels.
Keeping smells to a minimum
Empty your indoor caddy regularly as you would with your kitchen bin to avoid odours. Odours will be reduced as your outdoor caddy is collected weekly compared to your general waste bin that is collected fortnightly.
Assisted collection
If you already have an assisted collection for your other bins, this will be the same for your outdoor food caddy.
Paying for the service and affecting council tax
There is no charge or subscription, and the introduction of food waste collections will not affect how much you pay for Council Tax.
Requesting a second caddy
Only one of each caddy type per household will be provided free of charge.
Keeping food waste caddies clean
Empty your indoor caddy into the outdoor one regularly, and wash both with hot soapy water, white vinegar or disinfectant. The small caddy can also go in the dishwasher (up to 60°C).
Liners
You’ll receive an initial roll of 52 liners with your indoor caddy to help you get started. Once they run out, you can buy more from most supermarkets or food stores.
You don’t have to use the supplied liners. Old bread bags, plastic shopping bags, newspaper or kitchen roll all work just as well. The anaerobic digestion facility removes all liners and packaging at the start of the process. You can use whatever works best for you.
We are not providing compostable liners. The anaerobic digestion facility removes all liners all at the front end of the process whatever they are made of as any packaging does not breakdown at the same rate as the food itself.
Why caddies are lined but packaging must be removed
Please take packaging off your food waste where you can and dispose it in the right bin at home. The only exception is caddy liners, which help keep your caddy clean. These are removed at the start of the recycling process.
On the odd occasion that you can’t remove the packaging, still put the food in your caddy. It will be taken out at the anaerobic digestion plant but removing it at home makes the process quicker and more efficient.
Putting the wrong items in the food caddy
If your food caddy contains the wrong things, crews will not be able to collect it. If this is the case, they will leave a hanger on your caddy to explain the problem and what you need to do.
Making space for a food caddy in your kitchen
The indoor food caddy is five litres and designed to sit in your kitchen. If you don’t want to use it or don’t have space, you can use your own container or put food waste in a liner and then straight into the larger outdoor caddy and present that for weekly collection.
Options if you have limited space to store your caddy
We know space can be limited, especially in flats or shared homes. Councils are looking at flexible options like shared bins or smaller caddies where needed.
Placing extra waste beside your caddy
All food waste must be contained in the outdoor caddy and not left at the side of it.
If your outdoor caddy goes missing
You can request a replacement from your local council.
Preventing animals from getting into your caddy
When you put your kerbside caddy out for collection ensure the lid is closed and the handle is positioned in the forward position to lock the lid.
Composting at home
Home composting is a brilliant way to recycle nutrients and make soil improver for your garden. For any food waste you can’t compost, like cooked food, you can use the kerbside food waste collection.
Why we can't put our food waste in with our garden waste
In Lincolnshire, garden waste and food waste are treated differently once they’re collected. Our garden waste is composted outdoors using a process designed for grass cuttings, leaves and plants which is not suitable for food waste. Our food waste will be managed in a sealed treatment process, so it’s collected separately in food waste caddies and taken to an anaerobic digestion plant. This means food waste gets the right treatment and delivers better environmental and economic benefits for Lincolnshire.
General waste collections and food waste inside them
Your local council will still empty your general waste but we encourage you to separate your food waste wherever possible as everything thrown away has an impact on the environment.
Why use the food waste system instead of the refuse bin or sacks
Using your food waste caddies means less rubbish goes to incineration, which is better for the environment and can save money.
Separately collected food waste is recycled into green energy and fertiliser — turning leftovers into something useful. While food could still go in your general waste bin, recycling it is the greener choice and helps us all do our bit.
Taking food waste to a recycling centre (tip)
You can still take food waste to your local recycling centre alongside other non-recyclable waste, but we encourage you to use the new collection service where it’s available, as this is designed to recycle food into energy and fertiliser. There will not be separate food waste container at the HWRCs.
The economic side of food waste recycling
Food waste will be treated by a private anaerobic digestion company chosen through a competitive process. The contractor covers costs through selling the energy produced as electricity or biomethane. The fertiliser by-product usually has a small cost. This system is financially sustainable and provides savings compared to current Energy from Waste treatment.
The anaerobic digestion process
The anaerobic digester is run by a private company. Food waste is first cleaned, shredded and mixed into a liquid. It’s heated to remove any harmful bugs or seeds, then placed in a sealed tank without oxygen.
Over several weeks, natural bacteria break it down and create biogas. This gas is used to generate electricity or upgraded to biomethane for the national grid. What’s left is a nutrient-rich fertiliser called digestate, which is stored and later spread on farmland to replace artificial fertilisers.