From spring 2026, every household in the borough will receive a free weekly food waste collection. This will be in addition to your existing refuse and recycling service.
From spring 2026, all North Tyneside households will benefit from a free weekly food waste collection.
Introduced as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling Initiative, this service runs alongside your regular household waste and recycling collections. It will help free up space in your bin and increase recycling.
The service is free to all residents and fully Government-funded.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the service start?
Why are we introducing a food waste collection service?
The new service is being introduced as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling Reforms. These are designed to increase recycling and we are required by law to introduce this service.
Will there be a charge for the new service?
No. All residents will receive a free weekly food waste collection service.
How do I sign up?
You don’t need to. Every household will automatically receive the service. We’ll be writing an introductory letter to all residents nearer the date of the launch. This will include instructions for opting out of the food waste collection service.
What bins or containers will I receive?
Each household will receive:
- 5-litre caddy (a small unit which can be neatly stored on a kitchen counter or inside a cupboard)
- 23-litre kerbside caddy (small unit with a lockable lid for outside use)
Residents living in communal properties will receive:
- 5-litre caddy (as above)
- A shared 180-litre or 240-litre external bin in the communal bin store
We will begin delivering caddies and containers to all households from early 2026.
What can go in my food waste caddy?
You can put all types of food in your caddy, including inedible parts such as bones, shells, peelings and tea bags.
Yes, please:
- Leftovers and plate scrapings
- Meat, fish and bones (raw and cooked)
- Fruit and vegetable peelings
- Bread and pastries
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Dairy products such as cheese and eggs, including egg shells
- Any mouldy or out-of-date food
Please remove all packaging before placing food in your caddy. Packaging should go in your refuse or recycling bin. Please check: what goes in my bins for more details.
No thanks:
- Packaging of any kind
- Cooking oil, fat, or other liquids
- Cutlery
- Flowers and plants
- Glass
- Garden waste
- Kitchen towels and tissues
- Pet waste such as cat litter or dog poo
Do I place my food waste in the 5-litre internal caddy loose?
We’ll communicate more about this before the service starts.
I home compost – should I still use the food waste caddy?
Yes. We encourage residents to continue composting at home, and to use the food waste caddy for items that are difficult to compost such as meat, fish, bones and dairy products.
For more information on composting at home, including our subsidised composting offer.
Won’t my kitchen caddy smell?
Food waste will be collected weekly, which should help to prevent smells. To keep your kitchen caddy fresh, we recommend emptying it regularly into the outdoor caddy and rinsing it out.
Won't my 23-litre caddy attract vermin?
No. The 23-litre caddy has a sealable, lockable lid to prevent pests and vermin.
Will my collection day change?
Your normal collection day will stay the same. Food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as your recycling and refuse.
What if don't want to receive this service?
If you choose to opt out, your existing refuse and recycling collections will continue as normal. You won’t receive a caddy or food waste collection service.