Mandatory UK Council Food Waste Collections by 2026 – What you need to know (Home & Business)

What’s Happening with UK Food Waste Collections?

Across England, a huge environmental shift is underway: weekly food waste collections will soon become mandatory for every household and many businesses. Whether you're in Horsham, Wirral, Newcastle, Hampshire, or Breckland, local councils are actively launching or expanding food waste services—many starting this year (2025).

This is part of the UK government’s "Simpler Recycling" reforms, aiming to standardise bin systems and reduce landfill waste. By March 2026, all English councils must offer weekly food waste collection—and it’s already well in motion.

Which Councils Are Launching in 2025?

All councils will have a food waste scheme in place by March 2026, but here’s a roundup of the most recent changes happening from 2025 to 2026:

• Brighton & Hove – Phased weekly food waste collections begin Autumn 2025
• Worcester – Residential service expected to start by Spring 2026; businesses already reminded of legal obligations
• Newcastle – Pilot scheme collected 300+ tonnes of food waste in 2025 and is expanding
• Walsall – Cabinet has agreed to introduce new household collection services
• Barnet (London) – Plans approved in July 2025 for new household food waste collections
• Horsham – Weekly food waste rollout planned in line with the Environment Act 2021
• Wirral – Implementation planning underway for borough-wide rollout
• Breckland – New commercial food waste service launched March 2025
• Hampshire (HCC) – Countywide commitment to service expansion by March 2026
• Worcester (Commercial) – Businesses reminded they must legally arrange a food waste collection service

These councils join many others like Lancaster, Erewash, Bedford, and Middlesbrough, already in motion as the national deadline approaches.

👉 Check if your area already provides a service on our council bag-size guide for bin liner compatibility.

Why Is Food Waste Being Collected Separately?

Food waste is one of the UK’s biggest sources of avoidable emissions. When sent to landfill, it emits methane—a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide.

By collecting it separately, councils can:

✅ Turn food waste into renewable energy

✅ Produce nutrient-rich compost for UK farms

✅ Reduce landfill dependency and cut council disposal costs

✅ Help households and businesses reduce overall waste

👉 Are you looking to compost at home? View our range of caddies, compostable bags, and home composting and recycling accessories.

Do I Have to Separate Food Waste?

Check with your local council, if not then you will very soon.

The Environment Act 2021 mandates that by March 2026, all councils in England must:

• Provide weekly food waste collections for households
• Ensure businesses have suitable collection contracts
• Help residents access clearly labelled bins and compostable liners

Already, councils like Worcester, Brighton, and Breckland are sending early reminders to prepare, especially for businesses.

Some councils may fine households or businesses if food waste is found mixed in with general or recycling bins.

What Do I Need to Get Started?

Whether you're a household or a business, here’s your food waste essentials checklist:

🏠 For Homes:

• 🟢 Kitchen food waste caddy (typically 5–7 litres)
• ♻️ Certified compostable liners (look for EN 13432)
• 🗑️ Kerbside bin (typically 23–25 litres, provided by council)
• 🌿 Optional: odour control filters, spare liners, or recycling guides for kids

Shop caddies and food waste bags for households

🏢 For Businesses:

• Heavy-duty food bins or wheelie bins
• Larger compostable sacks and food refuse bags (50-100 litres & 140-240 litres)
• Commercial waste agreement with licensed provider

Shop bulk compostable liners and bins for business

Why choose All-Green?

We are the UK’s leading supplier of food waste caddies and compostable bags since 2010, at the very start of the UK food waste collection rollouts. We’re proudly based in one of the original councils to introduce a food waste scheme, meaning we’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning.

We supply millions of compostable liners and food waste caddies to customers across the UK—including many in regions already offering collection.

✔️ Bag sizes matched to local councils
✔️ Liners fit standard 5L, 7L, 10L, and 23L bins
✔️ Available in both home and commercial quantities
✔️ Free UK delivery & friendly UK-based support

Whether you're in Dorset (14 years of service) or just preparing in your local council, we’ve got you covered.

Is My Council Already Collecting Food Waste?

Many councils have had food waste schemes in place within the last 10 years—especially in:

• Reading
• Oxfordshire
• Bath
• Derbyshire
• Edinburgh City
• Wigan

Check with your local council or our Council Bin Size Guide to see if your home is already covered.

What Happens If I Don’t Separate Food Waste?

By 2026, failing to separate food waste could result in any of the following:

• Fines may be issued by some councils where food waste is found amongst general waste or recycling bins
• Missed collections, especially where food waste is found amongst other bags or bins
• Contaminated recycling bins
• Higher council tax rates – this could be the case as mixed waste, including food waste, requires more expensive treatment methods, impacting public services

Mandatory Food Waste Separation: all businesses are legally required to segregate food waste from general waste.

Can I Use Normal Bin Bags in a Food Caddy?

Only a very few councils allow this, but in general, no. Standard bin bags are made of plastic and won’t break down during composting or anaerobic digestion. Most councils require certified compostable liners (EN 13432 standard), which are made from plant starch and fully degrade.

Shop certified compostable liners

Final Tip: Start Today, Even If Your Council Hasn’t

Thousands of UK homes are already separating food waste voluntarily. Why wait

👉 Stock up on compostable bags

👉 Get a stylish indoor kitchen caddy

👉 Keep your caddy fresh with filters

Stay Updated

We can’t offer real-time council alerts, but we do send regular emails with updates on food waste, plus offers on caddies, liners, and composting products. Sign up here.