Food waste consultation 2025
This consultation is now closed.
Overview
We’re starting weekly food waste collections to meet new government rules.
The Environment Act 2021 requires councils in England to collect and recycle glass, metal, plastic, paper, card, and garden waste. From 2026, we must also collect food waste from every household, every week.
Although we must offer this service, using it is your choice. Taking part helps reduce waste and tackle climate change.
The food waste collection service will be rolled out to all households in 2026. Before we make final decisions, we asked you to tell us:
- your preferred collection option
- any concerns you have about the new service or collection options
Options for delivering this service
We are considering two options:
Option 1: Weekly separate food waste collection and small electrical items
Option 2: Weekly mixed food and garden waste collection
You'll get:
- a small kitchen caddy for daily use
- a larger lockable kerbside caddy for weekly collection (flats and communal buildings will have a shared bin for weekly collection)
- free doorstep collection of small electrical items (for example, kettles and hairdryers) batteries and vapes
How it works
- Food waste can be bagged in any plastic bag.
- Collected weekly on the same day as recycling (green bin) or general waste (grey bin) all year round
- Food waste treated in a facility approved to accept animal by-products
- Small electrical items can be placed next to your bin and will be taken for recycling.
Cost and benefits
This option adds about £1.7 million per year to the cost of waste services.
It could increase recycling rates by 8%.
Use your existing brown wheelie bin for both food and garden waste. If you don't already have a brown bin, we'll provide one.
If you live in a flat or communal building, you'll use a shared bin for weekly collection.
How it works:
- Food waste must be in compostable bags, or placed directly into the bin
- We won't provide kitchen or kerbside caddies
- Collected weekly all year round with garden waste (brown bin)
- Food and garden waste treated in a facility approved to accept animal by-products
Small electrical items won't be collected at the kerbside but you can take them to the HWRC (tip) for free disposal.
Cost and benefits:
This option adds about £2.6 million/year to the cost of waste services and an extra £0.9m due to treatment costs for garden waste.
It could increase recycling rates by 4%.
Community engagement sessions
We held face-to-face engagement sessions at community venues all over the borough to give you the opportunity to talk to officers and give your views.
| Date | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 26 September | 9.30am to 12.30pm | ASDA, St Lawrence Way, Darlaston WS10 8UZ |
| Tuesday 7 October | 12pm to 3pm | Tesco, Silver Street, Brownhills WS8 6DZ |
| Thursday 16 October | 9.30am to 12.30pm | ASDA, 570 Bloxwich Road, Leamore, WS3 2BB |
| Tuesday 21 October | 9.30am to 12.30pm | Morrisons, Middle Piece Way, Willenhall WV13 1QG |
| Wednesday 29 October | 9.30am to 12.30pm | ASDA, St Matthews, George Street, Walsall, WS1 1RS |
Contact information
Before contacting us, please check to see if we can answer your question from our online information.
Email:
Phone:
Connect to a BSL interpreter
Available on demand Monday to Friday between 9am and 4:30pm
