The first food waste collection for households in North Kesteven, City of Lincoln and West Lindsey are under two weeks away, and residents are being encouraged to start using their food waste caddies.
Collections begin week commencing 30 March 2026.
Households are being encouraged to start filling their kitchen caddies one week before their first scheduled collection with any unwanted or inedible food waste, before transferring the contents into their outdoor caddy ready for collection day.
The new weekly service makes it easier than ever to recycle food waste separately from general waste. By taking part, residents will help reduce the amount of waste sent to Lincolnshire’s Energy from Waste facility and ensure food waste is put to good use instead.
All collected food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion plant in Lincolnshire, where it will be turned into renewable energy to power homes and fertiliser to support local agriculture.
A wide range of food items can go into the food waste caddy, including:
- Leftovers and plate scrapings
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
- Raw or cooked fruit, veg and peelings
- Dairy products such as cheese, butter, yoghurt and eggs
- Egg shells
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
Residents can use the liners provided to help keep their caddies clean or reuse other household bags as liners. There is no need to buy compostable or biodegradable bags. Liners are removed during the processing at the anaerobic digestion plant before the food waste is turned into energy and fertiliser.
Even small amounts of food waste make a difference. Items like banana skins, tea bags and leftover crusts soon add up across thousands of households. With weekly collections, food waste won’t be sitting around for long.
Cllr Danny Brookes, Chair of Lincolnshire Waste Partnership and Executive Member for Environment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We’re really pleased to see the launch of weekly food waste collections in North Kesteven, the City of Lincoln and West Lindsey. This is a simple change that can make a big difference. By separating your food waste and using your caddy each week, you’re helping to create renewable energy and fertiliser right here in Lincolnshire.
“I’d encourage everyone to start filling their food waste caddies now so you’re ready for your first collection taking place.”
Cllr Rebecca Longbottom, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said: “We’re really proud to be introducing weekly food waste collections in Lincoln. This is a positive step forward for the city and an easy way for residents to make a real difference.
“Instead of food waste being thrown away with general rubbish, it will now be turned into clean, renewable energy and fertiliser right here in Lincolnshire. Even small items like tea bags, eggshells and vegetable peelings can have a big impact when we all take part.”
Cllr Mark Smith, Executive Board Member for Environment and Waste Services at North Kesteven District Council, said: “Our teams have delivered caddies to over 58,000 North Kesteven properties in the space of six weeks, pulling out all the stops to make sure our District is ready to start recycling food waste.
“Now, it’s your turn to get involved and start filling those caddies with all your food waste before our first collections start from 30 March. Caddies can be filled with any food waste, including items you wouldn’t compost at home or feed to pets.
“We’re confident that, once they get used to it, residents will start to see the benefits of a weekly food waste collection. And, the environment will soon be feeling the benefit of a cleaner and greener way of dealing with a significant amount of household waste.
“We’re asking people to give the new service a try – the more people who take part, the more effective it will be.”
Cllr Emma Bailey, Chair of the Prosperous Communities Committee at West Lindsey District Council, said: “We’re pleased to be introducing food waste collections to help residents recycle more and reduce the amount of waste going to the Energy from Waste facility. This is an important step towards creating a more sustainable district, and we’re grateful to everyone for playing their part as the new service launches. By working together, we can make a real difference for our environment and our communities.”
Residents are reminded to check their collection day and ensure their outdoor food waste caddy is presented for collection on their usual waste and recycling days. If you haven’t yet unpacked your caddies, now is the perfect time to get set up and start recycling your food waste.
For residents of South Kesteven, food waste collections will begin week commencing 13 April 2026. In Boston Borough, East Lindsey and South Holland, deliveries and collections are scheduled to start from Autumn 2026.