One month after launching food waste collections in Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey, and two weeks into South Kesteven’s rollout, early results show a positive response from residents.
Thousands of households are now using their food waste caddies each week, helping to recycle food that would previously have gone in the general waste stream. In the first month alone, more than 950 tonnes of food waste has been collected across the four districts.
The new service makes it easier for residents to recycle everyday items such as peelings, leftovers, tea bags and bones. All of the food waste that is collected from homes is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is turned into energy and fertiliser, supporting local agriculture and generating renewable power.
Feedback from residents has also been encouraging, with many highlighting how simple the service is to use and how it helps keep their general waste cleaner.
While the rollout has been largely successful, councils continue to work closely with collection crews to fine-tune routes and address any early issues as the service beds in.
Councillor Danny Brookes, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, said:
“It's fantastic to see so many residents getting involved so quickly. In just a few weeks, households across Lincolnshire have made a real difference by using their food waste caddies and helping to recycle more from home.
“What’s been especially encouraging is seeing how people are really embracing the service — from decorating their caddies so they don’t get mixed up, to building simple holders and coming up with creative ways to make it work in their homes.
“This is an important step forward, and we’re really encouraged by the positive start. Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far and supported the crews as the service gets up and running.”
Pamela Woolcock, Group Public Sector Lead at BioteCH4, said: “Just over four weeks into food waste collections across Lincolnshire, we’re delighted with the progress so far. It’s been fantastic to see teams across the county come together to deliver 950 tonnes of food waste to our Hemswell site for processing. This volume will generate enough electricity to power 1,918 homes for a month and produce 807 tonnes of nutrient-rich biofertiliser for local farmland - helping to close the loop by returning valuable nutrients back to the soil.”
The rollout of food waste collections will continue later this year, with Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council set to introduce the service in the autumn. More information will be shared with residents in these areas in due course.