Redbridge rolls out food waste collections to all homes

13,000 households in Redbridge are already using the scheme, with the remaining houses across the borough set to be included by mid-December.

Since the initial rollout, more than 560 tonnes of food waste have been collected and processed through anaerobic digestion, generating enough renewable energy to heat around 56 average UK homes for a year.

Jo Blackman, Redbridge Council’s cabinet member for environment and neighbourhoods, said: "One third of household waste collected in Redbridge is food waste. By recycling it separately, we can make a real difference to our environment and put food waste to better use."

The scheme aims to reduce food waste, improve recycling rates, and support wider environmental goals, while also meeting a legal requirement for all councils to provide separate food waste collections.

Funding from central government is helping to cover the cost of new collection vehicles, containers, and additional staff. Residents who are new to the service receive a small indoor kitchen caddy and a larger, lockable outdoor caddy.

Food waste collected is sent to an anaerobic digestion facility in Dagenham, where it is turned into biogas for electricity and heat, as well as bio-fertiliser for farmland.

Ms Blackman said: "These achievements show the real difference residents are making by recycling their food waste, and I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part so far. With the roll-out of food waste collections to the remaining kerbside houses, we hope even more people will take advantage of the service, helping create a greener Redbridge."

A phased rollout is also planned for flats, with most set to use communal bins for food waste. Flat owners will be contacted directly ahead of the service starting in their building.