Bin Collection Day

Food and garden

Food waste caddy guide: what goes in and how to stop smells

By Steve K · Updated 23 September 2026

Most households now have a small kitchen caddy and a larger lockable outdoor caddy for food waste. Food is collected weekly, and in England weekly food waste collections became a legal requirement for councils from 31 March 2026, with a few councils given a later start date.

What can go in

Almost all food, cooked or raw:

Many councils also accept used kitchen roll.

What stays out

  • Packaging of any kind, including “compostable” packaging unless your council says so
  • Liquids such as milk, oil and fat in large amounts
  • Pet waste and cat litter
  • Garden waste, unless you have a combined food and garden bin

Liners

Councils differ, so check yours. The options are usually:

  • Compostable liners marked with the seedling logo or EN 13432 standard, in areas that accept them
  • Paper bags or newspaper, which nearly every council accepts
  • No liner, rinsing the caddy after each collection

Government guidance for England encourages councils to discourage fossil-based biodegradable plastic liners. Ordinary plastic bags are not accepted anywhere.

How to stop smells and flies

  • Empty the kitchen caddy into the outdoor caddy every day or two.
  • Put the outdoor caddy out every week, even if it is not full.
  • Wrap meat and fish scraps in newspaper.
  • Sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda in the bottom of the caddy.
  • Rinse the caddy with hot soapy water after collection, or sprinkle it with a little white vinegar.
  • Keep the outdoor caddy in the shade with the handle locked so foxes cannot open it.

Our guide to stopping bins smelling has more tips for warm weather.

Why it matters

Food in general waste is usually burnt or landfilled, where it releases methane as it breaks down. Food collected separately can be turned into energy and fertiliser. Separating food also makes the general waste bin cleaner and less smelly, which is one reason councils have been able to collect general waste less often.

Which bin? Quick answers

Find your council

Common questions

Can I put meat and bones in my food caddy?
Yes. Unlike home compost, council food waste is processed in large facilities that can handle cooked and raw meat, fish and bones.
Do I have to use caddy liners?
Liners are optional in most areas. If you use them, use the type your council accepts. Some accept compostable liners, some only paper or newspaper, and some prefer no liner at all.
What happens to food waste after it is collected?
Most goes to anaerobic digestion plants, where it is broken down to produce biogas for electricity or heat and a fertiliser used on farmland. Some is composted.
About the author

Steve K runs Bin Collection Day from the UK. He built it after one too many mornings chasing the bin lorry down the road, to make council bin days, bank holiday changes and recycling rules easy to check in one place. How we write and check guides.