Some households across England are starting to receive their new food waste recycling bins that are being sent out by local councils as part of new government rule changes. As of March 2026, all local authorities in England are required by law to collect food waste from kerbsides every week as part of the Simpler Recycling reforms.
The government’s Simpler Recycling scheme is designed to boost recycling rates and cut the amount of waste sent to landfill or incineration. The waste collected is sent to anaerobic digestion facilities, where it is converted into renewable energy and fertiliser.
Even though the legislation is in effect, about one-third of councils are experiencing delayed transition schedules due to existing waste contracts. Due to the delays, not all residents have had their bins at the same time.
Some areas have already received new bins, while others have only just had them delivered, or are still waiting, or are not expected to receive theirs until later this year or possibly at the start of 2027. For those who have now had theirs delivered, there are new food waste rules they must follow, including only putting certain items in the new bins.
It means many homes in England will have multiple recycling bins. Waste collectors must now, by default, collect different types of waste separately from households, including:
Under the new Simpler Recycling rules introduced in England, local councils must collect food waste from every household weekly. Families need to keep their organic waste separate from regular rubbish.
How do the new food waste recycling bins work?
Households will have three new items to use. The first is an indoor caddy, a small, compact 5L-7L bin designed to be kept in the kitchen for daily collection of food waste.
The second is a larger, lockable outdoor caddy into which you empty the contents of the smaller caddy. The third is a roll of liners. Households are not required to use liners, but they may use newspaper, unbleached paper bags, or certified compostable liners to keep the caddies clean.
What items can you put in the new food waste recycling bins?
- Cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, and bones.
- Dairy products and eggshells.
- Fruit and vegetable peelings, plate scrapings, and leftovers.
- Bakery items like bread, pasta, cereal, and rice.
- Tea bags and coffee grounds.
- Leftovers and out-of-date food.
What items are not allowed in the new food waste recycling bins?
- Liquids such as oils, fats, soups and drinks.
- Packaging of any kind, including plastic wrap and non-compostable food containers (excluding the liners).
- Compostable or bio-plastics (unless specified otherwise by your local council).
- Garden waste and flowers (collected separately so they can be processed via traditional open composting).
- Glass and metal.
- Nappies.
- General household waste.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live. Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there’s more recycled content in the products we buy.”