New FREE food waste recycling collections being rolled out in Derbyshire

All households in Derbyshire will soon receive free weekly food collections as part of reforms set out by central government.  

The new legislation means food waste must be collected separately from other waste and the new collections will be operated every week by local district and borough councils.

It means that residents in Amber Valley and Erewash will get food waste collections for the first time and residents in Chesterfield, Bolsover, High Peak, North East Derbyshire, and South Derbyshire will change from the old system of having food waste collected in their garden waste bin to separate weekly food waste collections.

All residents will receive a new outdoor caddy for their food waste – except residents in Derbyshire Dales where there is already a caddy system in place. Food waste collections in Derbyshire Dales will remain the same.

Derbyshire County Council is urging residents to start separating food waste into their new outdoor caddy as soon as collections in their area begin. Details of when collections will start are being delivered to households along with their caddies, which are lockable so they don’t attract wildlife.

Residents can recycle the following food items using their caddy:

• Plate scrapings
• Meat and fish bones – raw and cooked
• Fruit & vegetables peelings
• Egg shells
• Tea bags & coffee grounds
• Dairy (e.g., cheese)
• Rice, pasta, beans
• Out‑of‑date or mouldy food (packaging removed)

Liquids should not be included and food should be removed from all packaging before being placed in the food waste caddy.

Compostable liners help to keep food caddies clean and can be purchased in supermarkets or online. Check the packaging for certification code EN13432 to ensure they are suitable.

Collections in some areas will start sooner than others. Residents can find out more about their local food waste collection scheme from their local district or borough council (here in Erewash, by visiting erewash.gov.uk/foodwaste) or by following the links on the county council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/food-waste-recycling

Councillor Carol Wood, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Net Zero and Environment, said: “Even if we don’t consider ourselves particularly wasteful, there’s always food that can’t be eaten but can be recycled – items like bones, egg shells, fruit and veg peelings and even tea bags and coffee grounds.

“Food recycling is quick, easy and better for the environment and it costs less than other types of waste disposal so it will save council tax-payers’ money too.

“We’re committed to working with district and borough councils to reduce waste and boost recycling and it’s good to know that the extra food waste collected in Derbyshire will be put to good use either by recycling it to generate energy to power homes or turning it into a soil improver for local farmers to help grow crops.”