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Across Lancashire, we are introducing weekly food waste recycling collections, and I want to be clear about why this matters — not just for the environment, but for households, communities and council taxpayers.
This project is about more than recycling. It is about using waste more intelligently to save money, generate energy and protect frontline services for Lancashire residents.
From early 2026, homes across the county will receive a kitchen caddy, liners and an outdoor food waste bin, making it far easier to recycle everyday food waste. This is a practical, common-sense improvement to our waste system that helps residents reduce general waste, cut down on unpleasant bin smells and make better use of what would otherwise be thrown away.
Food waste makes up a significant proportion of household rubbish. When it goes into general waste, it sits in landfill, produces harmful emissions, and costs money to dispose of. Separating food waste at source allows it to be treated properly and far more efficiently.
One of the most important things to understand about this scheme is that it is not limited to fruit peelings or vegetable waste. A wide range of everyday kitchen items can be recycled through the food waste service, including tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, bread, dairy products, cooked leftovers, meat, fish and even bones.
Many residents are surprised by how much of their kitchen waste can go into the food caddy. This makes recycling simpler, frees up space in general waste bins and reduces how often those bins need to be emptied.
For households that already compost at home, this service works alongside that. Suitable items can still be composted in the garden, while cooked food and meat — which cannot be composted safely at home — can be recycled through the council collection.
A key part of this project is what happens to food waste once it is collected. Instead of going to landfill, it will be sent to an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, where it is broken down to produce renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
This means waste is not just disposed of responsibly, but actively used to create value. Energy generated through anaerobic digestion can be fed back into the system, while the by-products are used to support agriculture. It is a practical, proven solution that delivers environmental and financial benefits.
By separating food waste from general refuse and processing it through anaerobic digestion, Lancashire County Council expects savings of up to £5 million per year once the service is fully established.
These savings matter. They help reduce pressure on council budgets and allow money to be redirected into frontline services that residents rely on, rather than being swallowed up by rising disposal costs.
Reducing food waste also helps households save money. Better use of food, combined with recycling unavoidable waste, means less money thrown away each week and fewer trips to household waste centres. Small changes at home add up to real savings over time.
This food waste recycling programme is a practical project I am proud to support. It delivers real benefits without placing unnecessary burdens on residents. It simplifies recycling, reduces waste, generates energy and supports better use of public money.
If we are serious about improving recycling rates and managing waste responsibly, we have to make it easy, accessible and worthwhile for residents. Weekly food waste collections do exactly that.
By working together and making small changes at home, we can reduce waste, save money and help ensure Lancashire’s resources are focused where they matter most — on our communities and frontline services.
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