New food waste recycling service – Message from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council

Dear resident,

As subscriber to our bin e-newsletter we wanted to let you know that a new weekly food waste recycling service is launching to help you recycle food waste and reduce your environmental impact.

This new service from the Borough Council will not cost residents anything and is being mandated and fully funded by the government. Around half of the councils in the UK already successfully run food waste collections, and all areas in England will have a collection shortly.

From March, all borough residents will have food waste collected weekly on the same day as the usual waste and recycling collections. The food waste will be converted into renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions along with the amount of waste sent to landfill.

As part of the launch, every household will receive a kitchen caddy, a starter roll of liners, an outdoor food waste caddy, and clear instructions on what can and cannot be recycled. Residents do not need to take any action caddies will be delivered before the service begins.

We know you will have many questions and hope below will answer them.

🟦 Will it smell?
Collections are weekly, so food waste won’t be sitting around for long periods. And unlike your current black wheelie bin, the outside bins are fully lockable to help reduce smells and prevent access by foxes and other animals.

🟦 Will this attract flies or vermin?
The bins are sealed, and food waste will no longer be inside your black wheelie bin for up to two weeks at a time — this actually helps reduce issues in many areas.

🟦 Do I have to use it?
We encourage everyone to take part because it reduces landfill and supports national recycling requirements, but we understand not everyone will produce much food waste. Small households and composters can still participate with very minimal use.

🟦 Are black‑bin collections changing?
No — black bin collections are staying as they are.
Food waste collections do not replace or reduce existing schedules.

🟦 What about liners?
A starter roll is provided. After that, you can use any liner you choose –newspaper, bread bags, or none at all. It doesn’t have to be made of a particular type of material.

When do the collections start?
When you receive your caddy and bin, inside alongside the leaflet about ‘how to use’ there will be a date letting you know. Its weekly so easy to remember when you put your black or recycling bin out, put your food waste bin out!

Other FAQs can be found on our website here.

Residents living in flats who share bin areas will have tailored arrangements, are being written individually along with landlords and sheltered accommodation.

For more information, visit our dedicated food waste page and click this link to read the full press release.

Thank you,

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council