Food waste caddies begin arriving at Huntingdonshire homes

Residents across Huntingdonshire can now expect to start receiving new food waste caddies, as the district prepares to roll out a weekly food waste recycling service.

From today, 12 January, food waste caddies are being delivered to households across the district. Weekly collections are set to begin from the week commencing 30 March 2026.

Each household will receive a 7-litre grey kitchen caddy, a 23-litre outdoor food waste bin, along with a letter and leaflet explaining how the new service works. Flats with communal bins will receive a smaller indoor caddy, which residents should empty into a shared external food waste bin that will be collected weekly.

Huntingdonshire District Council says the service is being introduced in line with the Environment Act 2021, which requires all councils in England to provide weekly food waste collections. The council has confirmed it is unable to exclude individual addresses from receiving the caddies, as the service must be offered to all properties under national legislation.

The new collections are being introduced at no extra cost to residents, with government funding provided to cover bins, vehicles and recycling facilities, meaning there will be no impact on Council Tax bills.

Food waste makes up around a third of the average household bin, and when sent to landfill it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. Recycling food waste instead allows it to be processed through anaerobic digestion, turning it into biogas and fertiliser. Councils say diverting food waste from landfill also helps reduce disposal costs and makes waste services more efficient.

All types of food waste can be placed in the caddy, including meat, fish and bones, dairy products, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, bread, cakes, rice, pasta, fruit and vegetables, as well as pet food. While liners are not provided, residents can choose to use either compostable or non-compostable liners if they wish.

Food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as normal waste and recycling, although it may be picked up at a different time of day using a separate vehicle. Residents are asked to place their outdoor food waste bin at the edge of their property with the handle locked, alongside their other bins.

Collection days will be available soon via the council’s online bin calendar, as Huntingdonshire moves towards a consistent food waste recycling service for all households by the end of March 2026.