Following resident feedback, Thurrock Council has decided to roll out weekly food waste collections across Thurrock early, with food bins and caddies being delivered over the next few weeks.
The borough-wide rollout extends a successful pilot, which has been running in nearly 200 roads, to all houses in Thurrock.
Every house will receive:
- an indoor food caddy
- a locking outside food bin
- a roll of compostable caddy liners
- a leaflet explaining what goes in food waste, when collections will take place and the best way to use the caddy and bin
Government funding has been given to local authorities to cover the costs of launching food waste collections.
Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet member for Place and the Environment, said: "We have listened to residents' concerns following the introduction of the alternate weekly collection schedule and brought weekly food waste collections forward to answer them. This weekly collection not only helps the environment, it will also reduce the amount of general waste we all put out and keep our grey or green bins free of smelly food waste, something we know was an issue for a lot of people.
"Collections will take place every week on the same day that households' recycling or waste bin is collected. Once collected food waste is processed into biogas, which is used to generate energy or power vehicles, and a nutrient-rich fertiliser to help crops grow or to regenerate land."
A change in legislation means that from 2026 local authorities have a legal obligation to provide a separate, weekly food waste collection service.
New bins are being delivered over the next six weeks. Each household's first collection will be the week after they receive their new bins. The first collections have taken place this week.
Caddies and lockable outdoor food bins are for leftover food, fruit and vegetable peels, bones, tea bags, coffee grounds and any plate scrapings. The outdoor food waste bin should be filled from the caddy and put out for collection every week.
For more information, go to www.thurrock.gov.uk/foodbins
Photo below: Cllr Victoria Holloway with a food waste caddy.
