Food Waste Collection

You can use any bag in your food waste caddy

Did you know that nearly 30% of the waste that is thrown away in Devon is food waste?

If you are using your food waste collection THANK YOU! All councils in Devon either
offer a weekly Food Waste Collection or are in the process of rolling one out.

If you’re not using your food waste collection, please consider starting – perhaps with
tea bags and then add other food waste items in time (see list of items below).

Did you know that you can use any bag to line your food waste caddy?

More inspiration and information:

What is a food waste collection service?

Food waste is collected weekly in a food waste caddy alongside your other waste and recycling services. It is then processed in anaerobic digestion facilities in the South West. The material is broken down in a series of sealed, oxygen free tanks to produce methane, a gas used to generate electricity and digestate, (a nutrient rich fertiliser used by local farmers). Find out if your council offers a Food Waste Collection service?

What can you put into your food waste caddy?

Yes please:
All cooked and uncooked food waste
Bread and pastries
Dairy produce
Eggshells
Fish and bones
Fruit and vegetables, including peelings
Meat and bones
Pasta and Rice
Tea bags and Coffee grounds
Uneaten pet food

No thanks:
Compostable Packaging (see below)
Garden waste
Cut flowers
Anything other than what is listed under ‘Yes please’

Top tips:

Use a kitchen caddy to store your food waste in your kitchen then transfer the food to your outside food waste collection container,
You can use ANY bag to line your caddy e.g. an old bread bag, empty salad bag, frozen food bag, old carrier bag, compostable bag or newspaper to keep it clean,
If you put the handle forward on your outside caddy the lid will lock to help keep the contents secure.

What happens to the reused plastic bags or compostable bags used as caddy liners?

The anaerobic digestion facility cannot distinguish between normal plastic and compostable or biodegradable bags. The bags are all removed together from the food waste at the start of the anaerobic digestion process and sent to an Energy from Waste plant.

Why can’t you put compostable packaging in your food waste collection?

All potential contaminants are removed from the anaerobic digestion process at the start. Like caddy liners or bags, the facility cannot distinguish between normal plastic packaging and compostable packaging.

For tips on how to make the most of your food and plenty of delicious recipes,
download the FREE Have Your Food and Eat It! recipe book.

Want to cut down on food waste and save money? Go here for help and advice

Want to know how to compost your food waste at home? Here’s a handy step by step guide