Food waste recycling for flats

1. Line your new food waste bin using the provided 'caddy liners'.
2. When you need to empty it, simply carry your kitchen caddy to the communal bin.
3. Tie your liner and place in your new communal brown wheelie bin, we'll empty it every week.

Use your new food waste bin to recycle:

• all uneaten food and plate scrapings
• raw and cooked meat or fish, including bones
• dairy products, cheese and eggs
• raw and cooked vegetables
• tea bags and coffee ground
• bread, cakes and pastries
• rice and pasta
• whole fruit

Remember to recycle your mouldy and out of date food, including ready meals removed from their packaging.

You cannot dispose of:

• non-food products including nappies
• packaging of any kind
• liquids such as milk - these may leak causing spillages when transporting food
• any material that is not food waste

Buckinghamshire Council will start to roll out food waste collections to flats between November 2025 and March 2026. You will receive a kitchen caddy with a year's supply of liners alongside an information leaflet on what to do.

Remember there is no amount too small. The best thing we can do with our food is enjoy it but some waste like banana skins, tea bags and plate scrapings are inevitable and these can all be recycled.

Many people find that keeping it under the sink, next to the kitchen bin or on the work top is practical. And remember you can use your own container if you prefer something more stylish or it fits better in your kitchen.

By removing food waste from general waste bins, we can reduce disposal costs and redirect savings to other vital council services, which is especially important during a time of tight finances.

Increasing our recycling also supports our Climate Change Strategy and our goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Food waste collected in Buckinghamshire is taken to a facility and goes through a process called anaerobic digestion, where it is transformed into energy for homes and fertiliser for agriculture

Containers that cannot be located inside the existing bin storage area will be located in another suitable location at the premises.

Food bins that are contaminated with incorrect items will not be collected by the food waste vehicle and will be emptied at a later date by a different vehicle. If contamination is found, we will notify the managing agent and educate residents to recycle correctly.

We will be delivering food caddies between November 2025 and March 2026.

If your neighbours have not received a food caddy either it is likely we have not delivered to your area yet. If your neighbours have received a food caddy but you have not, we will arrange for a caddy to be delivered to you.

No, we are providing one roll of 52 liners to every household, which is a year’s supply of one bag a week.

You can order more at a discounted rate on recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk or use any bag or liner for your caddy.

The food waste bins will be emptied weekly.

Emptying your kitchen caddy regularly into the brown food bin and using caddy liners/plastic bags will prevent smells.

To make it easier to clean, you can line the food caddy with:

• compostable bags
• clear plastic bags or freezer bags
• carrier bags
• pedal bin liners
• salad, bread and cereal wrapping
• newspaper or kitchen roll

We cannot accept black bin liners, rubble sacks or hard plastic packaging.

Your communal brown food bin also has a small opening with a lid designed to reduce escaping smells and stop vermin getting in. This bin is emptied weekly.

The council does not offer a bin washing service. Keeping bins clean is the responsibility of the managing agent. There are several local companies who do provide this service.

Yes, we will be looking to provide all recycling bins at the same time as the food bins, however, if this will depend on the space available for these bins and will be discussed with the managing agent.

Please provide your address details and we will look into your options.