NEW! Food Waste
You will receive 2 additional bins:
A kitchen caddy.
We recommend placing this under your kitchen sink, next to your current indoor bins or on the counter top. It should be easily grabbed whilst you are preparing/cleaning in the kitchen.
Use the caddy liners inside your kitchen caddy to keep all food waste neatly contained. This will also help to reduce any smells which may be produced.
The kitchen caddy is sealable and lockable.
A 23l outside bin.
This can be placed next to or on top of your current outdoor bins.
It will be collected weekly from the FRONT of your property, on the same day as your current collections.
To find out when this bin will be collected, use https://mybins.blackburn.gov.uk
The 23l outside bin is sealable and lockable.
Currently, roughly 44% of your burgundy bin is food waste.
We know that some food waste (such as teabags, carrot tops etc) is inevitable but some food waste (such as uneaten leftovers, mouldy bread) can be prevented.
- Why is Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council introducing food waste?
By 31 March 2026, it will be legislation that each council in England must provide all households with a separate, weekly food waste collection. This comes under The Environment Act (2021) and the Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms.
- What happens to the collected food waste?
By presenting your food waste to be recycled, it will go to an anaerobic digestion plant which is great for the planet. It’s a process which uses microorganisms to break down food waste in the absence of oxygen, inside an enclosed system. Doing this produces biogas, which is used to generate renewable energy, heat and electricity and fuel for transport vehicles. The material left from the process is known as digestate which can be used as fertiliser, compost, or soil improver to grow more food.
- What do I need to do if I run out of bin liners?
A roll of recycled plastic bags will be supplied for free to collect food waste within the indoor caddy. When the bag is full, it will need to be tied and moved to the outdoor bin.
When your kitchen caddy liners are due to run out, tie a liner on to your 23 litre outside bin and the team will leave you more liners inside this bin.
- How often will my caddy be emptied?
Your 23L outside bin will be collected once a week at the FRONT of your property, on the same collection day as your other bins.
Check your collection dates on https://mybins.blackburn.gov.uk
It will be your responsibilty to empty your kitchen caddy and liners into the 23L outside bin.
- What if I don't produce any food waste?
Remember, there is no amount too small. Some food waste (such as banana peels, tea bags and citrus peels) are inevitable. These can now all be recycled and help make a big difference.
- I already have enough bins, where do I fit another?
We understand that most properties already struggle with space, particularly those with smaller terraced gardens. Food Waste is mandatory and we have specifically chosen smaller bins with a carry handle to help with storage.
We appreciate your efforts to help increase the amount of rubbish which is recycled in our borough.
- Will the food in my bin smell?
Not if you tie up the liners when your kitchen caddy is full and empty it regularly into the outside 23L food waste recycling bin. Remember, we will be emptying your food waste bin weekly!
- Will the food waste bins attract rodents?
No, your bins have a sealable and lockable lid which will stop rodents getting in.