Funding announced for increased food waste collections

The government has announced up to £295 million of funding for councils in England to introduce weekly food waste collections by 31 March 2026.

The funding will cover new food waste containers for homes and specialist collection vehicles and will be targeted at local authorities that have yet to fully put food waste service in place.

According to statistics over ten million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK, with much sent to landfill.

It is hoped that separate collections of food waste from every household will prevent contamination of other waste which could be usefully recycled, as well as ensuring that food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities rather than needlessly lost to landfill.

Food waste sent to anaerobic digestion facilities could be used to generate more sustainable energy to power homes and businesses, and cut down the more than 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with this waste.

The funding comes as part of the government’s Simpler Recycling plans, which are aimed at 'ending the confusing patchwork of rules governing what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country'.

The funding formula for local authorities was developed in collaboration with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) with engagement from local authority organisations. The financial model considers rurality, levels of deprivation, number of kerbside and flatted properties, configuration of flatted properties, food waste yields, vehicle and container unit costs, and average collection round sizes.

Recycling minister Robbie Moore said: "Weekly food waste collections are a central plank in delivering a simpler, easier recycling system for all. It will help to stop food waste heading to landfill and support our goals of tackling both waste and climate change.

"We’re backing councils with new funding to ensure the nation can benefit and recycle more."

Claire Shrewsbury, director of insights and innovations at WRAP, said: "Weekly food waste collections will give recycling in England an important boost and help reduce the impact of food waste on climate change. Our research shows that when food waste collections are introduced, and people see how much food goes to waste in their home, they want to do something about it. And with food waste costing a household of four around £1,000 a year, weekly collections will not only help prevent food waste in the first place, but utilise the food waste collected to generate green energy and compost."

Image by Devon Breen from Pixabay