Bedford Borough Council has launched a new commercial food waste collection service to help local businesses comply with incoming government recycling rules and support the Borough’s broader sustainability goals.
The new initiative, introduced in March 2025, enables businesses to separate and recycle their food waste, ensuring compliance with the government’s Simpler Recycling legislation and reducing their environmental impact.
The Council’s Commercial Services team has designed the service in collaboration with the Refuse and Recycling team. All collected food waste will be sent to BioGen, a Bedford-based anaerobic digestion facility, where it will be transformed into renewable electricity and organic fertiliser.
“Cleaner, greener future”
Announcing the launch, Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said: “We are proud to launch this new commercial food waste collection service, which marks a significant step forward in Bedford’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
“By helping our local businesses comply with the Simpler Recycling legislation, we are not only supporting them to meet legal requirements but also contributing to a greener future for our borough.
“This service transforms food waste into valuable energy and organic fertiliser, reducing landfill and carbon emissions. I encourage all eligible businesses to embrace this opportunity and join us in making Bedford a cleaner, more sustainable place to live and work.”
Saving money
Food waste is a significant contributor to landfill and greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2021, WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) estimated that the UK generated 10.7 million tonnes of food waste, with businesses in the hospitality, retail, and manufacturing sectors contributing around 25% of that total.
Councillor Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold and Ravensden), Portfolio Holder for Environment, added, “Bedford Borough Council is committed to supporting our local businesses in reducing their environmental impact.
“This new service not only helps businesses comply with the latest recycling regulations but also contributes to our broader goal of reducing waste and promoting sustainability across the borough.”
In addition to being environmentally beneficial, anaerobic digestion is also more cost-effective than landfill disposal, enabling the council to pass on savings to its service users.
The new food waste service is available to all businesses across the borough. Interested businesses can request a no-obligation quotation.
For more information or to get a quote, visit: bedford.gov.uk/CommercialServices
