Chesterfield Borough Council will introduce a new weekly food waste recycling collection from April 2026, helping residents recycle more of their waste and reducing the amount sent for disposal.
The change follows new Government legislation requiring all councils in England to offer weekly food waste collections.
Every household in Chesterfield will receive a 23 litre food waste caddy, which will be delivered before collections begin. The caddy is lockable to prevent access by wildlife, and residents may choose to line it using certified compostable bags.
Food waste will be collected weekly using dedicated vehicles, and residents will be informed of their collection day when their caddy is delivered.
When food waste is recycled, it is sent to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility where it is broken down to produce:
- biogas, which can be used to generate heat and electricity
- biofertiliser, which is applied to farmland
Households in the UK throw away approximately 6.6 million tonnes of food waste every year.
Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning and environment, said: “We are really excited to be introducing our new food waste collection service. Everyone produces some unavoidable food waste including leftovers, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds or vegetable peelings, and this weekly collection will make it easy for residents to recycle more while helping to reduce the amount of waste being sent for disposal.
“This new service strengthens our environmental efforts and makes it easier for households to keep their general waste bins cleaner and less full.”
Food waste collections for flats and other communal properties will be introduced later in 2026, with further information to follow.
The food waste collection service is free, and caddies will be delivered to households in advance of their first collection. There is no need to contact the council to order a caddy in advance.
Communal properties will receive food waste collections later in 2026. Residents will be informed ahead of the first collection.
For more details about what can and cannot be placed in the food waste caddy, and to see our list of frequently asked questions visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/food-waste
