Food waste recycling in the UK - is it available everywhere?

Last Updated: 16 November 2023

The progress of food waste recycling in the UK

In recent years, there has been significant progress in expanding food waste recycling across the UK. Local authorities and waste management companies have recognised the environmental and economic benefits of diverting food waste from landfill sites and sending it to anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities such as those operated by Severn Trent Green Power. These benefits include reducing greenhouse gas emissions (especially from methane), conserving valuable nutrients in the food chain, and generating renewable energy through the AD process.

Is it available everywhere?

While food waste recycling has gained momentum, its availability currently varies from one region to another. Residents may be left asking whether they have a food waste collection at all. The key factors influencing availability include:

1. Local authority policies: Each local authority in the UK is responsible for certain waste management services within its jurisdiction. As a result, the availability of food waste recycling programmes has become a bit of a postcode lottery, as it depends on the policies of individual local authorities. Some areas may have well-established food waste recycling schemes already, while others are still in the early stages of implementation. In most cases, the district or city council will be the authority responsible for collections, while the county council will overall be responsible for disposal of the waste.
2. Urban vs. rural areas: Food waste recycling tends to be more readily available in urban and metropolitan areas. Rural areas may face logistical challenges related to collection and transportation, which can impact the availability of food waste recycling services. However, it's still not always possible to have meaningful food waste collections from flats and apartment buildings, in particular in areas with high student populations - by nature, these are often in major UK cities.
3. Community demand: The level of demand and interest from the local community can influence whether food waste recycling is introduced. In areas where residents express a strong desire for recycling options, local authorities are more likely to invest in these programmes.

Expanding access to food waste recycling

Since food waste recycling is important to meeting environmental targets, several initiatives and strategies are being employed to make it more widely available:

1. Legislation and targets: The UK government and devolved administrations have set targets to reduce food waste and increase recycling rates. These targets encourage local authorities to implement food waste recycling programmes.
2. Education and awareness: Efforts to educate the public about the benefits of food waste recycling have been instrumental in increasing participation. Outreach campaigns and information sharing help to raise awareness and change behaviours.
3. Funding and support: Funding from government sources and organisations dedicated to waste reduction can help local authorities implement food waste recycling infrastructure. Grants and support are often available to offset the initial costs.
4. Innovative technologies: Advancements in waste management technologies, such as advanced composting and anaerobic digestion facilities, are making food waste recycling more efficient and cost-effective.

Challenges to universal availability

Despite progress, challenges to making food waste collections and recycling universally available still remain:

1. Financial constraints: Some local authorities may struggle to allocate funds for the development and maintenance of food waste recycling programmes, especially in areas with limited resources.
2. Infrastructure: Expanding food waste recycling may require significant investments in infrastructure, including bin distribution, collection vehicles and transportation to processing facilities.
3. Behavioural change: Encouraging households and businesses to separate food waste from general waste can be a challenge. Overcoming this inertia and changing long-established habits is an ongoing process.

There's work still to be done

Food waste recycling in the UK is an evolving process. While significant strides have been made in recent years, its availability is not yet widespread across the country. In fact, in England, there's very much a north/south divide when it comes to local authorities with a separate food waste collection service. Meanwhile, Welsh councils are leading the way in terms of collections and volumes of food waste being recycled. Factors such as local authority policies, community demand, and funding play critical roles in determining availability.

The commitment to expanding food waste recycling, driven by environmental concerns and sustainability goals, continues to grow. Despite recent changes to the Government's Net Zero policies and targets, the benefits of sending food waste to anaerobic digestion plants remain a key factor in rolling out recycling efforts nationwide.

Efforts to educate the public, set targets, and invest in infrastructure will likely lead to greater accessibility and participation in food waste recycling programmes in the years to come. Ultimately, the vision is for food waste recycling to be available everywhere in the UK, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

UPDATE: On 20 October 2023 Defra announced that separate food waste collections for most people in England would be implemented by March 2026. Read more about that here.

Check out our Local Authority page for more information about food waste recycling collections.