Food waste FAQs

Food waste FAQs

When will I get my caddy, and when will my collections start?

Please view our caddy delivery schedule to find out when you'll receive yours.

We’ll be delivering caddies to every home over a six-week period in February and March 2026 and collections will start one to two weeks after the caddies are delivered. Your start date will depend on where you live, but all collections will start during March 2026. To receive up-to-date food waste information, please sign up for our email updates

I don’t want you to deliver the caddy. I’m not around when you are delivering them

This service is a statutory requirement as part of the government's Environment Act 2021, Section 57, and it is part of a number of reforms known collectively as the Simpler Recycling reform. Legally we need to roll it out to every household, so everyone has the option to participate. Delivering caddies to 53,000 household will be challenging so we are not able to offer a bespoke delivery arrangement. Please ask a neighbour or friend to take the caddies in for you, and we will of course deliver a replacement if your original caddies are lost. 

Will you collect my caddies if I don’t want them? 

This is a statutory service that we have to provide. Please try the service as it is easy to use and means your food waste will be collected every week making more space in your black bin. If you don’t want the caddies please find an alternative use for them.

My caddy lid doesn’t close properly? The handle is loose

When attempting to close your caddy lid, please make sure you follow below steps:

1. Tilt the handle back fully (the lid will not close properly when the handle is upright or fully forward if the handle hasn’t first been placed in the unlock position)
2. Ensure that the lid tabs are aligned with the body of the caddy (the tabs are on either side of the lid)
3. Raise the handle carefully, ensuring the lid tabs engage under the locking parts of the handles
4. Your caddy can be locked with the handle fully upright or with the handle fully forward

It might take a couple of goes to get used to the handle and how to ensure the caddy lid is fully closed and secure.

The bins have been stacked and in storage so lids and locking handles may not perfectly align to start with, but if you leave them in the locked position this should resolve itself after a couple of weeks. Place the handle in the open position and then press the lid into place, so the locking parts align then move the handle to the locked position. You may need to hold the lid in place whilst moving the handle.

Sometimes the handle can pop out. It's easy to fix. Just line up the handle and the lug hole and apply pressure until you hear it click. You may find this easier to do with the caddy on its side applying pressure downwards. If the caddy can't be repaired, please contact us and we will provide a replacement.

When my caddy lid is closed, an opening between the lid and body remains?

During storage/transport, the plastic of the lid may have bended out of its original shape. This is something which can mend over time - you may need to place something with weight on top of the caddy lid, and we also recommend you keep the caddies inside whilst you do this (central heating helps the plastic to move back to its moulded position).

Can I have more than one food waste caddy?

Letting as little food as possible go to waste would be the best option, but if you are a large household or generate more food waste than the caddy allows for, you will be able to request an additional bin in due time.

Can I add my house number onto my caddy?

Yes – please do this as it will help ensure you get your bin back, and also help us if there are any problems with your collection.

I’ve lost my outer caddy, can I get another? 

Yes, our policy states that we will replace one caddy per household every five years. If you believe your caddy was stolen, please report this to the police and provide the crime number. We strongly recommend you add your house number to your bin.

My caddy is damaged, will you replace it? 

For general wear and tear, we will replace the caddy free of charge. Where there has been damage caused by an individual, either accidental or intended, the resident will need to pay a charge toward its replacement. 

What size are the caddies?

Caddy (inside):

• Capacity: 7 litres
• Size: 27cm (width) x 23cm (depth) x 24cm (height)

Caddy (outside):

• Capacity: 23 litres
• Size: 32cm (width) x 39cm (depth) x 40cm (height)

Communal outside bin (flats and apartments):

• Capacity: 140 litres
• Size: Standard wheeled bin size

Question missing?

If you would like to ask another question which isn't answered here, please contact us: Waste Services contact form

Last updated: 223/02/2026 10:06