Starting in April 2026, changes to the law mean councils in England must collect food waste from all homes weekly.
The change is part of the government’s plan to improve recycling rates and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Around half of all residents in England already have a weekly food waste collection, but this will be new for Chorley.
We are currently planning how the collections will work. We will provide full information in the coming months.
For further information about the government's plans and simpler recycling please visit:
Simpler Recycling: Government response - GOV.UK (Opens in new tab)
Resources and waste strategy for England - GOV.UK (Opens in new tab)
Why is the council introducing a separate weekly food collection?
From April 2026, councils will be required to collect food waste from all homes on a weekly basis as part of new Simpler Recycling legislation. The change is part of the government's plan to make it easier for residents to recycle, improve recycling rates and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste is estimated to contribute 8-10% of global man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Food waste is currently the largest single material found in residual waste bins, making up approximately 33% of all waste collected from householders’ general waste. Collecting food waste separately on a weekly collection will ensure that it is recycled.
The UK Government is providing councils with funding for new vehicles, containers and operating costs.
What bin will I get?
You will be provided with two food waste bins, a small kitchen caddy (7-litre) to keep inside for daily use, and a larger food waste caddy (23-litre) for you to keep outside and put out weekly with your other bins. You will also be provided with liners to use in your food waste kitchen caddy.
The dimensions of the 7-litre kitchen caddy are height 23cm; width 26cm; depth 23cm.
The dimensions of the 23-litre outdoor caddy are height 40cm; width 30cm; depth 40cm.
Are the liners biodegradable?
The liners we provide are not biodegradable but will be recycled as part of the process.
The fact that the liners are biodegradable or not has no impact on how the food waste is recycled and any type of bag can be used and recycled as part of the process.
If you would prefer to use biodegradable liners, they can be used in the small caddy.
The liners we provide are made from recycled plastic.
Will you replenish our liners?
We will aim to replenish the liners annually.
If they run out in the meantime, any type of bag can be used in the small caddy.
How do I get a food waste bin?
Food waste bins will be delivered free of charge to every household within Chorley/South Ribble.
We will provide more information on when you should expect your food waste bins closer to the delivery date.
When will the food waste collections start?
Collections will commence in Spring 2026; we will provide more information on when you should expect your first collection closer to the time.
How often will they be collected?
Weekly.
Will we need to pay for them?
No.
Will the collection for the general waste bin become less frequent now?
There are no planned changes to the frequency of collection of other bins.
Will our council tax go up because of this?
Collecting food waste will become a statutory service, and council tax is collected to support in our funding of our services.
The budget for the coming year is not yet set and there are many factors which contribute to the decision on council tax rates.
Our annual budget consultation will take place early next year.
I don’t have the space for a caddy in my kitchen
The caddy is very small and can fit easily in a cupboard or on a worktop or counter.
You can also just dispose of food waste in a liner or bag, or a caddy of your choice and put in the larger caddy outside.
I don’t have room outside for a new bin
The outdoor caddy is 1/10th the size of a normal wheelie bin and is lockable.
It can sit alongside or on top of your other bins.
How to I stop the outdoor caddy from flying away with the wind?
The caddy can be weighted down when empty on windier days if needed.
I live in a flat and have communal bins – how will this work?
Flats will get a kitchen caddy and liners, but instead of an outdoor caddy they will get a communal bin in their bin store (with the other shared bins for waste/recycling).
Some flats, depending on the property, will get the same caddies as households.
What can I recycle in the food waste bin?
You can include all food waste from your home, including leftovers from meals, food that has gone past its use by date, and any other food waste from your kitchen, including the following:
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fruit - raw and cooked
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salad and vegetables - raw and cooked
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vegetable and fruit peelings - including banana skins, cherry stones etc
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tea bags (including the bag) and coffee grounds
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bread, cakes and other baked goods
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pasta, rice, beans and pulses
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meat - raw and cooked, bones
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fish/shellfish - raw and cooked, including bones and shells
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eggs and egg products (including eggshells)
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dairy products (including cheese and yogurts)
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tinned and dry pet food
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small amounts of gravy, sauces or custard left on food
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any meal or take-away leftovers.
What can’t I recycle in the food waste bin?
Please do not put any of the following in your food waste bins:
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liquids such as milk and oils
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packaging
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cardboard
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foil
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plastic film or plastic bags
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glass
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other recycling
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garden waste
Why can’t food waste go in the garden waste bin?
Garden waste is sent for composting in Lancashire, and the facility does not accept food waste. Food waste will be sent for anaerobic digestion, a different process which converts organic waste in an oxygen-free environment into biogas and digestate. The digestate can then be safely used as a nutrient rich fertiliser to enhance soil fertility and help crop growth.
Why can’t garden waste go in the food waste caddy?
Food waste will be sent for anaerobic digestion, a different process which converts organic waste in an oxygen-free environment into biogas and digestate.
Will the kitchen caddy smell?
Using the kitchen caddy for food waste is no different to having food waste in your current kitchen bin. The kitchen caddy has a lid which is lockable and will help contain any potential smells. We will also provide you with liners to use in in the kitchen caddy, this will help to keep your bin clean.
You can empty the kitchen caddy into the external food waste caddy as regularly as you wish to prevent smells in your kitchen.
Will the outdoor bin attract wildlife and how do I stop them getting into the bin?
The food waste will be collected in a 23-litre container, specifically designed to be pest and fox-resistant, featuring a locking lid to help prevent access.
What about flies or maggots if the food goes mouldy?
Food waste will be collected more regularly than it is now, meaning flies and maggots are less likely to be an issue.
Food waste bags can be moved to the outdoor caddy at any time.
Will the caddies get dirty?
All food waste can be bagged so there should be no residual food waste on the caddies.
The food waste collections will ensure your general waste bin is cleaner too.
Why should I recycle food waste?
Food waste makes up over a third of the average household waste bin. Recycling food waste also means less waste is sent to landfill or incineration. Instead, it is taken to a specialist facility where it is recycled.
By recycling food waste, you'll have fewer items in your rubbish bin and it'll be cleaner.
I do not have food waste, I compost
Great! We all should be wasting less, and composting is a fantastic way to do this.
We understand that you may not use your food bin as much as other people—or at all—due to composting, but we want to ensure that if your compost bin is full or if you experience any mobility issues, that you have everything you need to use this service — to avoid any food waste going to landfill.
A spare caddy is always handy whilst washing one up or if your current one is full when the weather is too unpleasant to venture out to your compost bin.
Do I have to use the food waste bin?
No, you do not have to recycle your food, but by doing so you are helping to reduce the amount of household waste in your rubbish bin. It is also much better for the environment.
Can I opt out of food waste collections?
The government has made it mandatory for councils to collect food waste from all households.
All households will receive the two food waste caddies.
How is providing even more plastic (with the caddies) better for the environment?
The caddies are made of 100% recycled plastic.
The caddies need to be durable, lockable and pest resistant to prevent issues we have already addressed as part of this FAQ. The plastic material, same as other bins in the home is the most appropriate material for this use
The net positives for recycling food waste, as opposed to it going to landfill outweighs the negative of the plastic containers which will have a long usage period.
What happens to the food waste?
Food waste that’s collected for recycling will be processed using anaerobic digestion (AD). AD involves the breakdown of biodegradable material to produce a source of renewable energy.
This is broken down to produce biogas which can be used to generate electricity and heat, and as vehicle fuel.
A further by-product of AD is a digestate which is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements required for healthy plant growth and fertile soil which can be used by farmers as a soil fertiliser.
Where will it be recycled?
The food waste collected from households will be taken to Farington Waste Recovery Park for anaerobic digestion, as directed by Lancashire County Council as the Waste Disposal Authority.
What is the position on cardboard bins?
At the moment, there are no plans to change the cardboard waste box. We are taking the feedback from all our residents on board about this and will use it to inform decision making.
Additional carboard waste bins can be purchased at any time, and any damaged bins can be replaced. New, lost, stolen or damaged bins | South Ribble
Cardboard waste can also be taken to local recycling centres. Find your local centre at Recycling centres - Lancashire County Council.
How can I reduce my food waste?
For advice on reducing food waste, go to Love Food Hate Waste (Opens in new tab) (Opens in new tab)
How can I find out more about food waste collections?
We'll be delivering more information to every household, closer to the time.
Our website will also be updated as and when more information is available alongside our social media channels.
For advice on reducing food waste, go to Love Food Hate Waste (Opens in new tab)