Get ready for food waste collections

Food waste collections will soon be starting for people living in Lincoln and the villages around the city.

 The three councils covering the area have slightly different starting schedules with people in North Kesteven receiving their new waste caddies from Monday (January 19) while in West Lindsey they will be delivered from February 3.

The weekly collections will begin for City of Lincoln residents from week commencing March 30 as part of the county-wide rollout under the Environment Act 2021, which requires all authorities across the country to pick up food waste separately.

Currently, food waste makes up around 26% of Lincolnshire’s general waste and is incinerated at the Energy from Waste plant. By separating food waste and placing it in a separate caddy for collection, it will go to an Anaerobic Digestion plant, where it will be used to create green energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for agriculture, therefore cutting reliance on fossil fuels and supporting local farming.

This change supports the UK’s goal of achieving net zero by 2050 and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Caddies for Lincoln residents’ food waste will be delivered from February 23 when each household will receive a small five-litre indoor kitchen caddy with an initial roll of 52 liners, and an information leaflet on how to use the service. 

Those households who currently have their own wheeled bins for recycling will also receive a 23-litre outdoor caddy with an orange lid. This is for the food waste collected in the kitchen caddy to be placed into, for kerb-side collection.

Households served by communal bins, such as flats, will have access to a communal food waste bin. Both the kitchen and the kerb-side caddies have lids that can be ‘locked’ to prevent odours escaping or pests getting access. 

Weekly food waste collections will take place on the same day as the usual wheeled bin refuse / recycling collection, regardless of which bin is out, but at a different time by a dedicated vehicle. 

Even if you compost at home, there are many items that can’t go on a compost heap, but which can be taken by this service.

 Please use your caddy for:

• All uneaten food and plate scrapings
• Meat and fish (raw or cooked), including bones
• Dairy products
• Tea bags and coffee grounds
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, pastries, and cakes
• Raw/cooked fruit and vegetables, including peelings

Cllr Rebecca Longbottom, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at the city council said: “Introducing weekly food collections is a change I’m very much looking forward to. As a council, we are proud to support our residents in recycling more efficiently and helping to protect the environment.

“The scheme has already been successfully rolled out in other counties and has been warmly welcomed. I hope our residents embrace it too and recognise the positive difference such a simple change can make. Together, we can turn waste into something useful and make Lincoln a cleaner, greener city.”

For more details, including what can go in your food waste caddy and tips for keeping it clean, visit www.lincoln.gov.uk/foodwaste.