Food Waste

Simpler Recycling - Food Waste (For Residents)

Why are collections being introduced?

In the UK, households unfortunately throw away a lot of food waste. Currently, 60% of food waste in the UK is wasted by households. That’s 4.7 million tonnes of food being thrown away every year that could have been eaten. 

Wasting food not only wastes money, but also all the energy used in the production, processing, packaging and transporting of food, which impacts on the environment and climate change. 

From April 2026 every Council in England will have to collect food waste each week from households. This is a new legal requirement introduced by the Government under 'Simpler Recycling'. 

When will the food waste collections start?

In Rossendale weekly food waste collections will start from week commencing 6th April 2026. Please do not present your caddies until then. 

In areas where we collect your waste/recycling with a small 12 ton RCV we are looking at delivering your caddies in May 2026, with collections starting in June 2026 - there has been a delay with the specialist vehicle that we need to be able collect food waste separately. 

What will I receive?

From February 2026 Each household will receive:

  • 5-litre kitchen caddy (a small unit which can be neatly stored on a kitchen counter or inside a cupboard)
  • 23-litre kerbside caddy (small unit with a lockable lid for outside use)
  • A roll of caddy liners
  • An information leaflet with everything you need to know about food waste recycling

Residents living in communal properties will receive:

  • 5-litre kitchen caddy (as above)
  • A shared 140-litre or 240-litre external bin in the communal bin store or individual 23-litre kerbside caddy. 
  • A roll of caddy liners
  • An information leaflet with everything you need to know about food waste recycling

Storing your caddy

You will need to store your food waste caddies until collections start in April 2026.

If you put your caddy out for collection before week commencing 6th April 2026 we cannot collect it.

How to use your bins and recycle food waste.

We will begin to collect food waste every week from week commencing 6th April 2026. 

Please do not put any food waste into your new recycling bin until a week before collections start. Until then, any food waste should go in your green bin. 

Line your kitchen caddy with the liner, this helps to keep it clean, then place in any food waste. 

When the liner is almost full, tie it closed and place into your outside 23-litre kerbside caddy. To keep your kitchen caddy clean you can wash it out or put it in the dishwasher.

Put your food waste bin out, alongside your other bins, by 6.45am on your normal collection day at the location that you present your paper/cardboard sack/bin (this is normally on the pavement at the front of your property). Make sure the lid is locked to keep it secure. Your food recycling bin will be emptied every week.

What food waste can go in the kitchen caddy?

  • Meal leftovers

  • Plate scrapings

  • Tea bags (including the bag)

  • Coffee grounds

  • Meat (raw and cooked, including bones)

  • Eggs, including eggshells

  • Dairy products like cheese and yogurts

  • Fish/shellfish (raw and cooked, including bones and shells)

  • Fruit, salad and vegetables (raw and cooked)

  • Fallen fruit (windfalls)

  • Lard and other hard fats

  • Bread, cakes and other baked goods

  • Pasta, rice, beans and pulses

  • Pet food (hard and soft)

What should NOT go in the caddy:

  • Any household waste

  • Packaging of any kind

  • Liquids such as milk

  • Oil or liquid fat

  • Flowers

  • Plastic bags

  • Plastic film and wrap

  • Garden waste

  • Batteries

  • Vapes

  • Anything that is not food waste

Storing your liners

Store your liners in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and children.

Forgotten to tie your last food caddy liner to your outdoor caddy?

If you forgot to tie your last liner to your outdoor food caddy on collection day, the Collection Crew won’t know that you need a new roll.

Instead, you can now collect a free roll of food caddy liners from one of our collection points in Haslingden, Bacup, Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall or Whitworth.

  • Haslingden Community Link - Bury Road, Haslingden, BB4 5PG
  • Adrenaline Centre, Haslingden - Helmshore Road, Haslingden, BB4 4DN
  • Haslingden Library - Higher Deardengate, Haslingden, BB4 5QL
  • Bacup Library - St James Square, Bacup, OL13 9AH
  • Pioneer Gym, Bacup - Unit 7, Park Road, Bacup, OL13 0BW
  • Crawshawbooth Community Library - Adelaide Street, Crawshawbooth, BB4 8PW
  • The Zone – Rawtenstall Library (temporary outreach offer) - The Old Fire Station, Rawtenstall, BB4 8EW
  • The Whitaker Museum - Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, BB4 6RE
  • Marl Pits Leisure Centre - Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall, BB4 7SN
  • The Customer Service Hub - Rossendale Borough Council, Business Centre, Future Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB
  • Whitworth Town Council - Whitworth Civic Hall, Market Street, Whitworth, OL12 8DP
  • Whitworth Library - Lloyd Street, Whitworth, OL12 8AA

How do I collect a roll?

Simply ask a member of staff at reception at your nearest collection point and they will provide you with one free roll of food caddy liners.

You don't need to contact the Council before visiting a collection point.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • One free roll is available per household per visit.
  • Food caddy liners are free for Rossendale residents only.
  • Liners are not available for commercial or trade use.
  • Liners are subject to availability at each collection point.
  • Please check the venue's opening times before visiting.
  • If your nearest collection point has temporarily run out, please try another location.