Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced a new initiative to introduce a separate food waste collection service for residents and businesses in the borough. The move is in response to the government’s instruction to all local authorities to start collecting food waste separately from March 31, 2026. However, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been granted an approved delay to introduce the weekly food waste collection service until June 1, 2026, to coincide with the cessation of the existing residual waste disposal contract.
The new service will provide households with a small indoor caddy for the kitchen, rolls of caddy liners, and an additional small 25-litre outside bin for the separation of food waste. This will enable residents to easily store and dispose of their food waste separately from their general waste. The new service will also include the collection of food waste on a weekly basis, making it easier for residents to participate and reduce their waste sent to landfills.
The new service is part of the council’s efforts to reduce waste sent to landfills and meet its aim to become carbon neutral by 2030. The council’s environment boss, Cllr Jim Smith, emphasized the importance of the new service, stating, “With the government making it mandatory for us to collect food waste from 2026, we want to ensure that all residents of the borough are well equipped to recycle their food waste. This not only benefits you by making your burgundy bin cleaner, but also helps the wider climate issue we are all facing.”
The new service will be initially paid for by a government grant of £1,157,421, which will cover the costs of providing the kitchen caddies, food waste bins, and collection vehicles. The grant breaks down as follows: £132,930 for kitchen caddies, £293,181 for food waste bins, £15,210 for large communal containers for blocks of flats, and £716,100 for food waste collection vehicles.
In addition to the residential household service, businesses with 10 employees or more are expected to arrange for their own food waste collection before April 1, 2025. This will enable businesses to prepare for the new service and avoid any disruptions to their operations. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees will need to arrange for the collection of their food waste from 2027.
Private contractors are available to provide food waste collection services to businesses, and residents are encouraged to research and find the best option for their needs. The council has also emphasized the importance of businesses taking responsibility for their food waste and arranging for its collection in a timely manner.
The new service is expected to collect approximately 4,600 tonnes of food waste a year from households in the borough, which is equivalent to the weight of around 460 double-decker buses. This will not only reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills but also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The new service is also expected to benefit residents by making their burgundy bin cleaner and reducing the amount of waste they need to dispose of. The council has emphasized the importance of residents participating in the new service and separating their food waste from their general waste.
Residents can start preparing for the new service by separating their food waste from their general waste and storing it in the new caddy. They can also consider composting food waste at home to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. The council has provided guidance on how to compost food waste and has encouraged residents to take advantage of this option.
In conclusion, the introduction of a separate food waste collection service is an important step towards reducing waste sent to landfills and supporting the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030. The new service will provide households with a small indoor caddy for the kitchen, rolls of caddy liners, and an additional small 25-litre outside bin for the separation of food waste. Businesses are also expected to take responsibility for their food waste and arrange for its collection in a timely manner.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the new service and separate their food waste from their general waste. They can also consider composting food waste at home to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. The council has emphasized the importance of residents and businesses taking responsibility for their food waste and participating in the new service to help reduce waste sent to landfills and support the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The new service is expected to be approved by the council’s executive board when it meets on Thursday evening, and residents can expect to start receiving their new caddies and bins in the coming weeks. The council has emphasized the importance of residents participating in the new service and taking responsibility for their food waste, and is encouraging residents to get involved and make a difference in reducing waste sent to landfills.