What food waste bins are for
A food waste bin (sometimes called a food caddy, brown bin, or organics bin) is a dedicated container for kitchen scraps that get composted or anaerobically digested rather than landfilled. UK rollout accelerated under Simpler Recycling in April 2026, making separate food waste collection mandatory for all English councils.
The science behind separate collection: food waste in landfill produces methane (28x more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas) and contaminates other recyclables. Composting or anaerobic digestion recovers energy and nutrients while avoiding the methane release.
What goes in a food waste bin (UK 2026)
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|
| All cooked and raw food scraps | Liquids (oils, soups, milk) |
| Meat, fish, bones | Packaging (even compostable plastic) |
| Dairy products | Pet food cans or pouches |
| Bread, pasta, rice | Cigarette butts, ash |
| Tea bags (most types, see note) | Garden waste (separate bin) |
| Coffee grounds and filter paper | Glass, metal, plastic |
| Egg shells | Disposable nappies |
| Fruit and vegetable peelings | Plant pots |
| Plate scrapings | Plastic-coated paper |
| Out-of-date food (remove packaging) | Sanitary products |
Tea bag note: most major UK tea brands removed plastic from tea bags by 2024 (PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea, Twinings). Pre-2024 stock may contain polypropylene sealing the bag, which contaminates compost. Cut bags open and compost only the leaves if uncertain.
What goes in a US municipal organics bin
US cities with municipal food waste programmes (San Francisco, Portland OR, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, parts of New York City) use similar rules with local variations:
- San Francisco: accepts food, food-soiled paper, and compostable packaging labelled "BPI certified compostable"
- Portland OR: accepts food and yard trimmings together
- Seattle: accepts food, food-soiled paper, and yard waste together
- New York City: separate brown bin programme expanding 2024-2026
For US residents without a municipal programme, options include backyard composting, community garden drop-offs, or commercial pickup services like Compost Cab (DC), CompostNow (Triangle NC), Veteran Compost (Mid-Atlantic).
Liners: what to use
The most common food caddy mistake is using the wrong liner. Three options for UK caddies:
- Compostable bags certified to EN 13432 (BS EN 13432): look for the "seedling" logo or "OK compost HOME" certification. Sold by major supermarkets, Amazon, Hippo Compostable. These break down in industrial composting facilities.
- Newspaper or kitchen roll: free, biodegrades in any composting process.
- No liner: rinse the caddy after each empty. Works but messy.
Never use:
- Standard plastic bags (even if labelled biodegradable, oxo-degradable, or "plant-based" without EN 13432 certification)
- Carrier bags or bin liners
Why this matters: contamination rates
Per the WRAP Recycling Tracker 2024:
- UK food waste contamination rate: 11% (down from 17% in 2020)
- Top contaminants by volume: plastic packaging not removed (47%), non-compostable liners (28%), nappies (8%), pet waste (6%)
- Financial impact: contaminated loads either get rejected or downgraded, adding ~£12-25 per tonne to processing costs
A contaminated food waste bin in your street can result in the entire collection lorry's contents being rejected and sent to landfill. The Simpler Recycling mandate from April 2026 includes powers for councils to refuse to empty visibly contaminated bins.
What happens to food waste after collection
The two main destinations:
- In-vessel composting (IVC): heated, enclosed composting that destroys pathogens. Produces compost meeting PAS 100 standard for use in agriculture and landscaping. Most UK councils route to this.
- Anaerobic digestion (AD): bacteria break down food waste in oxygen-free tanks, producing biogas (electricity) and digestate (fertiliser). About 60% of UK councils route to AD.
The UK has 657 AD facilities processing food waste as of 2026 (Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association 2024 stats). A typical AD plant generating electricity from 50,000 tonnes/year of food waste powers around 12,000 homes.
Practical food waste reduction tips
The waste hierarchy applies: reducing food waste production beats composting on every environmental measure.
- Plan meals before shopping
- Use a "use first" shelf at eye level in the fridge
- Freeze leftovers within 2 hours of cooking
- Use older fruit and vegetables for soups, smoothies, or stocks
- Compost peelings and tea bags only if no other use
UK households waste an average of £730/year in food per the WRAP 2024 Household Food Waste figures. Halving that recovers a typical month's mortgage payment annually.
Key takeaways
- Simpler Recycling makes separate food waste collection mandatory for all English councils from April 2026
- Most cooked and raw food is accepted; liquids, packaging, and pet waste are not
- Use only EN 13432-certified compostable liners or newspaper, never standard plastic bags
- Contamination rates are 11% UK average and trigger load rejection in worst cases
- Food waste destinations: in-vessel composting (compost output) or anaerobic digestion (biogas + digestate)
Sources
DEFRA Simpler Recycling guidance 2026. WRAP Recycling Tracker 2024. Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association statistics 2024. BS EN 13432 compostability standard. San Francisco Department of the Environment composting guidelines. New York City Department of Sanitation brown bin programme 2026.
