Food waste collections
Our online forms are currently unavailable
Do not use them for now, including for ordering recycling bags and food caddies, reporting fly-tipping, missed collections or street cleaning. For food waste requests, email [email protected]. For clear recycling bags, email [email protected]. Or call 020 7361 3001 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Overview
Helping you go greener
As part of our Council Plan and our commitment to making Kensington and Chelsea a Greener, Safer and Fairer borough, we're expanding the Food Waste Collection Service.
We collect food waste from:
- kerbside properties – collected from outdoor food waste bins or bags
- estates and blocks of flats – collected from communal bins
- on-street food waste bins – collected from communal bins located at some of our mini recycling centres
Apply for food waste collections
To sign up for food waste recycling collections, contact our team.
Estates and blocks of flats
We've been working with landlords, housing providers and property managers to introduce communal food waste bins.
If your block does not offer food waste recycling, ask your property manager or site staff to contact our team.
On-street food waste bins
If your property is near an on-street food waste bin, you can sign up to receive a 7-litre food waste kitchen caddy and caddy liners.
You can check your nearest on-street food waste bin by checking the mini recycling centre interactive map:
How to use the service
Kerbside collections
After you have signed up we'll send you:
- a small, black, 7-litre kitchen food waste caddy
- a larger, black, 23-litre outdoor food waste caddy
- 12 months' supply of food waste liners
If your property is divided into multiple flats and you have a limited amount of space at the front of your property, you may need to share your outdoor caddy with your neighbours.
When your indoor food waste caddy is full, put your securely tied food waste liners into your outdoor food waste caddy and lock it by placing the handle forward.
Estates and blocks of flats
When your indoor caddy is full, put your securely tied food waste liners into the large communal food waste bin.
On-street food waste bins
Our on-street food waste bins are located at five of our mini recycling centres
What you can put in your food waste caddy
- raw and cooked food (including vegetables, meat, fish and bones)
- fruit and peelings
- dairy, including cheese and eggs
- bread and pastries
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- eggshells
- rice, pasta and beans
Do not put these in your food waste caddy:
- packaging of any kind
- black bags
- garden waste
- liquids, such as milk
- oil or liquid fat
- any material that is not food waste
Order bins and liners
If you run out of liners, you can buy your own from supermarkets or other retailers. Our preference is that you use compostable bin liners.
Do not use black or opaque bags as the crews will not collect them. They need to be able to check that only food waste is inside.
You can also contact our team to request more caddy liners or a replacement caddy.
Collection days
Place your outdoor caddy at the front of your property by 7am on your collection day.
To help the collection crew find your outdoor caddy, place it:
- at kerbside level
- at the edge of your property
- as close to the pavement as possible
Do not put your outdoor caddy:
- on the pavement
- in basements
- inside passages
- inside bin housing structures
Frequently asked questions
- Why we introduced the food waste recycling service
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Around 30% of our general waste is food waste. By taking part you will reduce the amount of general waste we collect and improve the borough’s environmental sustainability.
- Where the food waste go
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The food waste collected is taken to an anaerobic digestion plant where it is used to generate electricity to power the national grid, and as a bio-fertiliser to grow crops. By using the bins for your leftovers, you are contributing to our ambition to be a carbon-neutral Council by 2030.
- How to reduce your food waste
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We encourage our residents to reduce waste where possible, visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for tips and recipes on how to reduce your food waste and make delicious recipes using leftovers.
- What if you do not produce any food waste
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Remember there is no amount too small. The best thing we can do with our food is to enjoy it; but some waste like banana skins, tea bags and plate scrapings are inevitable. These can all be recycled.
- No space for the caddy, what to do
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The kitchen caddy is only 7-litre capacity and is designed to be kept on a kitchen work surface or under the sink. You can use your own container if you prefer something more stylish or it fits better in your kitchen.
- I do not have time to do this
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It is important we all contribute to increasing our recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste we incinerate. Recycled food waste can be turned into electricity for homes and fertiliser for farmers. Besides, it is really easy; all you need to do is follow the instructions on this webpage.
- Food bin smell
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Food waste is collected weekly so it will not smell. Do not forget to empty your kitchen caddy regularly into the outside food bin and tie your liners. By recycling your food waste, you will take the smelliest content out of your waste, which will reduce bad odours in your general waste bin.
- Unwanted caddy collections
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If you have been given a food waste caddy but do not want it, please let us know, so we can collect it for reuse. You can email us at [email protected] or telephone 020 7361 3001.
Food waste collection policy
Read our food waste collection policy (PDF, 158.08 KB).
Contact us
- email: [email protected]
- phone: 020 7361 3001 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)