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Southwark Council to launch weekly food waste collection service for flats

11 September 2024

In a move set to boost recycling rates and tackle the climate emergency, Southwark Council is launching a free weekly food waste collection service to blocks of flats.

The new service is due to start on 21 October 2024 and will be rolled out to blocks of flats that do not have a food waste collection now.

As part of this new service, the Southwark Council will deliver a small kitchen caddy to households in September and October and have written to all the households being added to the service. Residents can use the caddy to collect food scraps and transfer them to a communal food waste bin, which will be installed near their existing recycling and rubbish bins. Collections from these communal bins will start from 21 October, with weekly collections thereafter.

The introduction of this service is a significant step in tackling climate change, reducing waste, and complying with new government regulations. Residents are encouraged to participate in this initiative by separating their food waste from other rubbish and recycling, to create renewable energy and produce fertiliser for farmland.

Why is Southwark Council introducing food waste collections?

  • Tackling the climate emergency: By recycling more food waste, residents will help significantly reduce the borough's carbon footprint.
  • Saving money: Recycling food waste saves the council money that can be reinvested into other essential services for the community.
  • New legal requirements: Under recent changes in government policy, councils must now collect food waste separately from other household waste. This ensures that food waste is sent to specialised processing facilities, to be converted into renewable energy and fertiliser.

What you can put in your food waste bin

You can use your food waste collection for:

  • meat, fish and bones (cooked or raw)
  • fruit and vegetables
  • bread, rice and pasta
  • eggs and dairy products
  • tea bags and coffee grounds
  • plate scrapings

Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste, said: "This new food waste collection service is an important step towards making our community more sustainable and reducing our environmental impact. We all know the devastating effects of climate change, and by recycling food waste, we can take direct action to reduce harmful emissions. I urge all residents to get involved and help make Southwark a greener place to live."

Residents can find more information, including detailed instructions on how to use the kitchen caddy, by visiting: southwark.gov.uk/foodwaste

Page last updated: 11 September 2024

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