Residents can expect to receive their new food waste bins in the coming weeks as the council gets set to launch its new recycling scheme.

Weekly food waste collection will officially start in the borough from Monday, March 1, as the council bids to boost its recycling rates.

READ MORE: Food waste collection service on-track for new start date

This means residents can expect to see a number of items delivered to their door from between January 25 and February 26.

During this time, households will receive:

  • a black 23-litre outdoor caddy
  • a silver 5-litre indoor caddy
  • one roll of 50 green plastic indoor caddy liners
  • a service leaflet that includes collection schedule

Residents are being advised to open their caddies as soon as they receive there is important information on how to use the new service inside.

Currently, around 43 per cent of the contents from the average green bin is food waste.

READ MORE: Why food waste start date was postponed

By recycling this instead, BFC hopes to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill by 50 per cent.

Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes, BFC’s environment chief, said: “We had to delay the original roll-out date of the new food waste service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the production of the food waste vehicles had been halted. We now have everything in place, and we’re excited to go live on 1 March.

“Recycling food waste is the next logical step in reducing our landfill waste. No matter how small, everyone generates food waste, whether it’s peelings from an onion or chicken bones it all helps towards creating energy to power our homes and fertiliser to help local crops.”

In order to go ahead with the new food waste scheme, green non-recycling bins will now be collected every three-weeks instead of every fortnight.

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest bin schedule set to change with introduction of new food waste service

This move, which will be introduced in order to offset the cost of the new food waste bins, has proved controversial over the past year with more than 3,000 people signing a petition against the changes.

Cllr Hayes continued: “Some residents may be apprehensive about moving to three-weekly collections for green bins and we understand their concerns.

“However, by taking out food waste and all other recyclable materials, households should have enough space for that extra weeks’ worth of waste.

“As always bin lids should remain closed and nappies and pet waste should be bagged to reduce smells.

READ MORE: What you can put in each of your bins

“Likewise, with the food waste service, houses will receive lockable indoor and outdoor caddies, which if used correctly, will prevent bad smells.”

“This is a brilliant opportunity for our borough, and as proven by some of our neighbouring authorities, a success in increasing recycling rates. If you have any queries or concerns before you get started, please refer to our website where you can find all the information you need.”

What you can put in your black food waste bins (collected weekly)

  • all cooked and uncooked food
  • meat and fish bones
  • teabags and coffee grounds
  • vegetable peelings, banana skins and apple cores
  • pet food
  • out of date food (without packaging)
  • cooking oil in a sealed plastic bottle (this needs to be in the outdoor caddy on collection day)