Food waste collections

Weekly food waste collections in Luton started on 31 March 2026 for kerbside households. Collections for flats are being introduced in phases between September 2026 and March 2027

Around 35% of the household rubbish that is thrown away in Luton is food waste. This service is part of the government's national Simpler recycling scheme.

Collecting food waste separately:

• reduces waste and greenhouse gases
• turns food into fertiliser and renewable energy

If you live in a house

If you live in a house, you should have:

• one small blue kitchen caddy for you to collect your food waste
• one larger blue kerbside caddy to be emptied every week by the crew

How to use your caddies:

• line your kitchen caddy with a clear bag and collect your food waste in it during the week
• when it’s almost full, tie the bag and pop it in your large outdoor caddy, ensuring the lid is locked and secure
• put your outdoor caddy out by 6am on your usual collection day
• make sure the handle is upright as this helps the crew
• once your caddy has been emptied, you should return it to your property promptly to prevent it from being lost or blown away and do not leave it on the street between collections

Why not number or mark your outdoor caddy so you know it’s yours and it does not get mixed up or lost?

If you have not received your food caddy or you need a replacement, fill in our request a new bin or report a lost or damaged bin form.

If you live in a flat

As the service is introduced, you'll receive one small blue kitchen caddy to collect your food waste.

Food waste collections for flats are being introduced in phases between September 2026 and March 2027. Our team will visit each property as its round begins, providing information on the service and when collections will start.

A larger communal food waste bin will be provided where your other bins are stored for you to empty your caddy into when full.

Lining your caddy

You can line your kitchen caddy with suitable clear bags, making the service easy to use and helping to reuse materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

We recommend using a bag to help contain smells and keep your caddy clean. Examples include: bread bags, cereal bags or fruit and veg bags. 

Any bags are removed at the recycling facility before the food waste is processed.

Alternatively, if you prefer a plastic-free option you can line your caddy with newspaper, paper towels or kitchen roll.

What to put in your kitchen caddy

Here's a list of what we can and can’t collect.

We can collect

• fruit and vegetables – raw, cooked and peelings
• dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
• eggs and eggshells
• raw and cooked meat and fish
• small poultry and fish bones
• leftover food from your dishes and plates
• bread, cakes and pastries
• rice, pasta and cereal
• tea bags and coffee grounds

We cannot collect:

• large bones
• packaging
• liquids, oils or liquid fat

Incorrect items will result in your caddy not being emptied.

Frequently asked questions

We understand that there have been various questions and comments following the introduction of the service on 31 March.