Southampton Households to Receive Weekly Food Waste Recycling from 2026

Southampton residents will soon have a new way to cut down on rubbish and boost the city’s green ambitions, with weekly food waste recycling set to begin rolling out from February 2026. Southampton City Council confirmed that all households will receive a kitchen caddy, an outdoor food waste bin and a starter roll of liners, along with clear guidance on how to use the new service.

The rollout will take place in phases across the city and will give residents a straightforward system for separating out food scraps from general waste. The initiative forms a key part of the council’s City Plan 2035, which aims to create a “healthier, safer, and greener city.”

Councillor 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.”

How the new service will work

Food waste will be collected weekly, on the same day residents already put out their general waste or recycling bins. General waste and recycling will continue to alternate, but food waste will always be picked up every week.

Households will receive:
• A kitchen caddy
• An outdoor food waste bin
• One roll of caddy liners
• An instruction leaflet explaining what can and cannot be included

Residents will be able to recycle all regular food scraps, including fruit and vegetable peelings, plate scrapings, leftover bread or pasta, dairy products, meat and fish (raw or cooked, including bones), as well as tea bags and coffee grounds.

Items that must not go in the food waste bins include any type of packaging, liquids and oils, garden waste, pet waste, and nappies.

What happens to the waste?

All collected food waste will be processed through anaerobic digestion — a treatment method where food breaks down in the absence of oxygen. This produces biogas, which can be used to generate renewable electricity and heat, alongside a nutrient-rich fertiliser suitable for agricultural use. The process reduces carbon emissions and diverts a significant amount of material away from general waste bins.

Preparing for 2026

Ahead of the launch, every household will receive a “food waste is coming soon” leaflet in November or early December 2025. This will include simple instructions and links to online FAQs. Residents will not need to take any action until the council begins delivering the caddies and outdoor bins, with further updates expected closer to the rollout.

The council says the new system will help keep streets cleaner, reduce the volume of rubbish in general waste bins, and support Southampton’s wider climate goals.