Flintshire County Council

Food waste

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Reduce your food waste and save money!

You could save the equivalent of around £50 a month by cutting down on the food you discard.  Food storage advice, leftover suggestions, portion planning, and use by dates are just some of the ways www.lovefoodhatewaste.com (new window) shows you how to save money. For an introduction watch the video below (it has sound).

Food waste collections

For the food waste you do need to dispose of we provide a small silver caddy and compostable liners (bio bags) for storing food waste scraps from the kitchen. The waste can then be transferred into the larger green caddy, with a lockable lid, and placed outside your home for us to collect.

Order more biobags (will open an e-form)

Order a new food waste caddy (will open an e-form)

Food waste - caddy user guide (PDF 613Kb new window)

Frequently asked questions about food waste

1. When will my food waste be collected?

Food waste will be collected on the same day every week along with your alternating black or brown wheeled bin.  Please remember to put your green caddy out at the kerbside by 7am to ensure collection and remember to lock the lid!

Find my collection day

2. What can I put in my green food waste caddy?

• Windfalls
• Pasta, rice & cereal
• Food past its use-by date
• Mouldy food & leftovers
• Fish / meat bones and skin
• Tea bags & coffee grounds
• Eggs (& shells), cheese & yoghurt
• Fruit & vegetable peelings
• Stale bread, cakes & confectionery
• Pet food

What CANNOT go in my food caddy?

• No liquids or oils
• No packaging whatsoever for example:
• Plastic containers
• Foil & foil trays
• Clingfilm & plastic wrap
• Cardboard

3. What do I do with packaged food items e.g. yoghurt in a pot?

Yoghurt and other food, would have to be removed from the packaging and put into the caddy and the container placed in with your non-recyclable waste.

4. Can I put packaging in the caddies? 

No. If packaging is included your caddy will not be emptied. 

5. Can I put oil/fats/liquids in the caddy?

No. The biodegradable bags will not withstand quantities of cooking oils and liquids and may burst when you remove them from the caddy, (solid fat is acceptable). Oils can be taken in a secure container to your local Recycling Park and emptied into the oil bank. Please ask an attendant if you are unsure. Please do not pour fat down the drains. 

6. Can I line my kitchen caddy with a carrier bag?

No. The bags we provide are biodegradable and made from corn starch. This means the material will break down by natural processes into harmless substances, unlike plastic and many other packaging materials. No other type of bag can be used for this purpose as it will contaminate the load.

7. My carrier bags are biodegradable / compostable / degradable why can’t I use them?

Our collection crews are not able to tell if your bag is fully biodegradable to our required composting standard. They will not have time on the round to lift out bags from bins and read the side. It is far easier for them to identify the bags provided by us. If your bin contains any plastic or biodegradable bag of any other kind it will be rejected and not be emptied.

8. How many biobags should I use per week?

A maximum of 3 should be sufficient for most families. Biobags need to be used until they are full before tying up and placing in your green caddy. As Biobags are expensive, please use them wisely. If you run out of biobags, newspaper can be used to line the caddies.  Your biobags must be stored in a cool dry place avoiding direct sunlight.

9. I don’t think I will have room for the kitchen caddy.

The caddy is only 7 litres. It is designed to sit on the kitchen worktop, or under the sink for ease of access and takes up very little room.

10. I already compost all my food waste using a compost bin.

This is a really environmentally friendly way of dealing with your raw fruit and vegetables. However, food items that are not suitable for home composting, such as cooked food and meat, can now be collected and composted at a purpose built facility. If you currently make your own compost please continue to do so and use your kitchen caddy for the food you cannot put on your compost heap.

11. How do I obtain a new supply of biodegradable bags?

A label has been inserted into the roll of biodegradable bags which will appear when your bags are getting low. Tying this label to the handle of your green container will prompt the crews to leave replacement bags. 

12. My green caddy is missing / broken, can I have a new one? 

For lost or broken caddies please contact the helpline on 01352 701234. Your caddies are your responsibility. Please make sure your outside caddy is kept clean and is clearly labelled with your house name or number to avoid being given to the wrong property.

13. What happens to the food collected?

The food waste collected is bulked up at Flintshire County Council’s site in Buckley.  A contract for the treatment of food waste has been awarded to Biogen Greenfinch.  This is an Anaerobic Digestion facility and is based in Ludlow in Shropshire. This treatment system is fully enclosed which considerably speeds up the composting process and accords with Welsh Governments Sustainability agenda.  

The end-products of soil conditioner and liquid fertilizer are used by local farmers. The resulting Biogas is used to power the anaerobic digestion plant, with any surplus biogas being used to generate electricity for the National Grid. 

Visit the Biogen Greenfinch website (new window) to learn more about anaerobic digestion (new window) and what will happen to your food waste.

14. I have further questions - who do I contact?

Submit an online enquiry (will open an e-form)

Phone: 01352 701234