Get ready to put the food waste bins out

The first food waste collections for homes in the Lincoln area start today.

Residents should have started to fill their new indoor caddies and outdoor bins with leftovers, peelings, tea bags and other food over the last couple of weeks for collection on their usual bin days.

All collected waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion plant in Lincolnshire, where it will be turned into renewable energy to power homes and fertiliser to support local agriculture.

The scheme starts in Lincoln, West Lindsey and North Kesteven this week before being rolled out in the rest of the county later in the year and is part of the government drive to cut emissions and increase recycling.

Cllr Rebecca Longbottom of City of Lincoln Council said: “We’re really proud to be introducing weekly food waste collections in Lincoln. This is a positive step forward for the city and an easy way for residents to make a real difference.

“Instead of food waste being thrown away with general rubbish, it will now be turned into clean, renewable energy and fertiliser right here in Lincolnshire. Even small items like tea bags, eggshells and vegetable peelings can have a big impact when we all take part.”

A wide range of food items can go into the food waste caddy, including:

• Leftovers and plate scrapings
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
• Raw or cooked fruit, veg and peelings
• Dairy products such as cheese, butter, yoghurt and eggs
• Egg shells
• Tea bags and coffee grounds

Residents can use the liners provided to help keep their caddies clean or reuse other household bags as liners. There is no need to buy compostable or biodegradable bags. Liners are removed during the processing at the anaerobic digestion plant before the food waste is turned into energy and fertiliser.