By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Details on the roll-out of weekly food waste collections in Southampton have been revealed by the council.
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All local authorities in England and Wales must offer the kerbside household collections from April 1 next year.
While some parts of Hampshire are already offering the service, it will be a new provision for Southampton City Council.
The council has confirmed that the weekly collections will be introduced in phases across Southampton from February 2026.
Every household will receive a kitchen caddy for collecting food scraps and an outdoor food waste bin for weekly collection.
A ‘what goes in / what stays out’ guide will be provided alongside the caddy, with further information made available online.
Cllr John Savage, cabinet member for net zero and environment, said: “This is a big step forward for Southampton.
“Weekly food waste collections will make a real difference, helping residents keep their general waste bins cleaner and lighter while turning leftovers into something useful.
“It’s a practical change that supports our climate ambitions, delivers on our City Plan 2035 vision of a greener, healthier Southampton, and keeps our city looking its best.
“Thank you to everyone who will get involved and help make this a success from day one.”
The new weekly collections will take place on the same day as residents’ usual general waste or recycling collection, which will continue to alternate each week.
The council said introducing food waste recycling would help to cut the amount of rubbish going into general waste bins, keep streets cleaner and bins fresher.
All collected food waste will be processed through anaerobic digestion, a natural treatment process where bacteria break down food waste in the absence of oxygen.
This produces biogas, which is used to generate renewable electricity and heat, and a nutrient-rich material that can be used as fertiliser on farmland.
In April, Labour cabinet members signed off on purchasing six 12-tonne refuse collections vehicles and around 300,000 caddies and containers for the food waste service.
This cost was covered by a capital grant from government, with a further £628,000 in revenue funding provided to deliver the containers to homes, manage the project and carry out communications activity.
Residents will receive a kitchen caddy, an outdoor food waste bin, one roll of caddy liners and an instruction leaflet.
Food waste recycling includes all food and plate scrapings, fruit and veg (including peelings), meat and fish (cooked or raw, including bones), dairy, bread, rice, pasta, beans, tea bags and coffee grounds.
Packaging, liquids, oils, garden waste, pet waste and nappies should not go in the food waste bin.
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