Following the success of Phase 1, Newham is expanding its weekly food waste recycling service to approximately 76,000 street-level properties across the borough.
- Councillors joined waste collection crews to deliver food waste recycling starter kits to residents as part of the latest rollout.
- In the first ten months of Phase 1, 12,000 participating households recycled an incredible 533 tonnes of food waste – equivalent in weight to 42 double-decker buses
Thousands of households across Newham are receiving their new food waste recycling caddies as the council rolls out weekly collections to approximately 76,000 street-level properties, helping residents give their food waste a new purpose as renewable energy and bio-fertiliser.
The expansion follows the success of the first phase of the service, which saw 12,000 households recycle an incredible 533 tonnes of food waste in just ten months - equivalent in weight to 42 double-decker buses.
Newham’s three-phase rollout of weekly food waste recycling is being introduced in response to the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, which require councils across England to collect food waste separately every week.
To mark the latest phase, Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment and Cllr Reverend Canon Ann Easter, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment Mayoral Advisor for Faith, joined the council's waste crews to support the service rollout.
Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment, said: “It was fantastic to join our hardworking teams today to help deliver food waste recycling caddies to residents. With around 40% of our rubbish made up of food waste, we all have a real opportunity to make a positive change and turn our scraps into something useful.
“Our residents have already shown what we can achieve together, and it's brilliant to see so many households embracing food waste recycling. Now, as we expand the service across the borough, we want even more residents to get involved and make food waste part of their weekly routine.”
Food waste collected by crews is sent to anaerobic digestion facility where it is turned into renewable energy and bio-fertiliser, helping reduce waste and support the council in achieving environmental ambitions.
The smallest scraps in your caddy can make a difference. Just six recycled tea bags can generate enough electricity to boil a kettle, while nine banana peels could produce enough energy to fully charge a laptop. Even a single caddy full of food waste can generate enough electricity to fully charge a tablet.
For resident Farooq, food waste recycling has already become part of his household's everyday routine.
Farooq, Newham resident, said: "It's really handy having a small caddy in the kitchen for things like fruit and vegetable peelings and other food scraps. I've definitely noticed that our rubbish bin doesn't fill up as quickly during the week anymore.
I'm really pleased this service has been implemented. It's a small change that's helping us all do our bit for the environment every week."
Every street-level property included in the latest rollout will receive a free starter kit containing a 5-litre kitchen caddy, a 23-litre lockable outdoor caddy, an introductory roll of liners and an instruction leaflet.
Deliveries of food waste starter kits began on 19 October and will continue over six to eight weeks, with residents able to start recycling their food waste as soon as their kit arrives.
Residents can find out how the service works, including what can and cannot go in their caddy, at newham.gov.uk/foodwaste
Your Food Waste Has a Future
The council's Your Food Waste Has a Future campaign is also helping residents get started, with colourful “Scrap Squad” characters encouraging households to recycle every week.
Residents can speak to our Waste Reduction Engagement Team at pop-up events across the borough, ask questions and get practical advice. You can find you nearest pop-up here >
What's next?
Starter kit deliveries will continue over the coming weeks, with the final phase of weekly food waste recycling rolling out to remaining flats and flats above shops in Spring 2027.
