Improving recycling rates and reducing environmental impact
As part of a government mandate under the Environment Act 2021, Lincolnshire will begin rolling out weekly food waste collections from 2026. This is a legal requirement for all waste collection authorities and aims to improve recycling rates and reduce environmental impact.
The rollout is being coordinated by Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, working closely with district and borough councils. West Lindsey will be going live with the food waste collection from March next year. Specific dates will be communicated in due course.
Each household will receive:
• A 5-litre indoor caddy for daily food waste
• A 23-litre outdoor caddy for kerbside collection
• A roll of liners for the indoor caddy (these can be supplemented by other soft plastic carriers such as bread bags and freezer bags).
Both caddies are designed to be secure, odour-resistant, and space-efficient. Food waste will be collected weekly using dedicated vehicles, and residents will receive full guidance with their caddies.
The collected food waste will be diverted from the Energy from Waste plant to a local anaerobic digestion facility, where it will be converted into biogas and fertiliser – supporting both clean energy production and local agriculture.
• This is a national legal requirement, not a local decision.
• The service is free and aims to reduce general waste and improve sustainability.
• Even households that compost should use the caddy for items like meat, dairy, and cooked food.
• The caddies are designed to be easy to use and store.