From today, Bedfordians will be able to recycle their food waste as part of their weekly kerbside refuse collections.
The service will make it easier for residents to recycle food waste alongside their grey and orange-lidded bin collections, support the Council’s environmental commitments and comply with new national requirements for weekly food waste collections.
All households with kerbside collections have now received a small kitchen caddy for use indoors, along with a larger outdoor food waste bin to place at the kerbside on collection day.
Flats without individual kerbside collections have received a kitchen caddy and can recycle their food waste using new silver‑lidded communal food waste wheelie bins in their bin store or at a clearly signed external collection point nearby.
Read: Food waste caddy deliveries continue across Bedford Borough ahead of 30 March launch
If you need guidance on what can go in the food caddy, the council has shared this helpful video:
Renewable energy
Collected waste will be taken to Biogen’s specialist facilities, where it is used to generate renewable energy and produce fertiliser for local farms.
In addition, it helps reduce the amount of rubbish in black bins and supports wider climate and environmental objectives.
The introduction of weekly food waste collections follows changes in national legislation requiring councils in England to provide this service, funded by central government.
The Council has also updated collection routes, with around 20 per cent of households now having a new collection day. Those affected will have received a letter explaining their updated schedule.
Read: One in five Bedford Borough homes to get new bin collection day
If you need to check your bin collection day, visit bedford.gov.uk/bins, or contact the Bedford Borough Customer Services team.
No bin?
Anyone who has not received their food waste kitchen caddy or outdoor food waste bin, or who has received a damaged item, should report this at bedford.gov.uk/RequestBins.
Cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold and Ravensden), portfolio holder for environment, said: “This new weekly food waste collection service is a significant step forward in how we manage waste in Bedford Borough.
“It means residents in houses and flats alike can recycle their food waste easily, helping us reduce what goes into black bins and turn unavoidable scraps into something useful for generating renewable energy and supporting agriculture.
“I want to thank residents for their support as we introduce this service.
“By using your kitchen caddy and food waste bin, you are playing a direct part in creating a cleaner, greener Borough for everyone.”
