Food Waste collections to start in October

Winchester City Council will be rolling out weekly food waste recycling collections across the district. Starting from October 2025, the service will be launched in phases, with all households receiving a weekly collection by the end of March 2026.

Collecting food waste separately significantly reduces the amount of waste sent for incineration. Instead, it’s taken to an anaerobic digestion plant where it will be converted into renewable energy and fertiliser for farms. The service is estimated to cut emissions by 1,900 tones of Carbon dioxide a year - or equivalent to driving 190 times around the world in a petrol car.

Collections will take place weekly on residents’ usual bin day and households will receive everything they need to start recycling food waste up to three weeks before their collection starts, this includes:

• A small grey kitchen caddy,
• An outdoor bin with a locking handle
• A starter roll of compostable liners
• Communal properties will be provided with shared outdoor wheelie bins

Nine specialist food waste collection vehicles have been purchased, fuelled by hydrotreated vegetable oil instead of diesel. The new food waste recycling vehicles have arrived at the depot reducing carbon emissions by up to 94%.

Go to https://www.winchester.gov.uk/waste-recycling/recycling/food-waste to find out your food waste collection day.