Wandsworth residents help recycle record amounts of food waste

As we mark the start of Recycle Week, food waste recycling is on the rise with over 8,000 tonnes of food scraps collected to date. And the appetite for food waste recycling keeps growing, supported by the continued roll-out of the service across the borough.  

Residents are also being reminded to try and avoid food waste wherever they can, with top tips being promoted throughout the week and beyond, including:  

• Making the most of leftovers 
• Checking your fridge is at a low enough temperature 
• Using a food portion calculator to calculate exactly how much you need to cook 

Wandsworth is also part of a London-wide campaign to encourage more people to reduce food waste wherever possible and recycle the rest. Since the launch of the Food’s Not Rubbish campaign, food waste caddy orders in the borough have risen by 45%, showing more residents are choosing to recycle their food waste rather than throw it away with their general rubbish. 

Food waste recycling is now available to all council-managed buildings and properties with ground-level access, and we are continuing to roll out the service to privately managed flats and mansion blocks, whilst food waste recycling trials for flats above shops are beginning soon. 

Councillor Ethan Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment at Wandsworth Council said:  

“This is a positive milestone for recycling in Wandsworth. Residents are already helping to boost our recycling rates for food waste and other materials, but there’s still more we can achieve. 

“We want to see even more people recycling across the borough. If you don’t already have a food waste caddy, order one through our website and if you don’t have food waste recycling available at your home yet, it will be coming soon. Together, we will reduce waste, recycle more and help create a cleaner, greener Wandsworth.” 

Food waste collected in Wandsworth is sent to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it’s turned into renewable energy and agricultural fertiliser, helping to power homes and support future food production. 

Live in a flat? 

While more Wandsworth households than ever are using our food waste recycling service there’s still work to do. Our food waste recycling service is now available to all Council-owned properties and we are starting to expand the service to people living in flats above shops as well.

We are also working with private landlords across the borough to make the service available to even more people. If you live in or manage a privately run block of flats that doesn’t currently have food waste recycling, we want to hear from you.

Let us know your building needs food waste recycling

More about recycling in Wandsworth 

Want to know more about food waste recycling, order a free food waste caddy, or check what can and can’t be recycled at home?  

Find out more about recycling in Wandsworth