Why should I recycle my food waste?

How the process works

Once we’ve emptied your caddy, your food waste is taken to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility just over the county border in Merevale in Warwickshire or Cannock.

Creating energy and fertiliser from your left overs and scraps ...
The food waste you put out each week goes on a journey to create energy and fertiliser from your left over scraps! Here's how ...
First, the food waste liners are removed leaving just the food to be processed. The liners are washed, and sent to an energy-from-waste plant.
The food waste is then shredded and mixed with liquid to make a smooth, porridge-like mixture
This mixture is pumped into large, sealed tanks called digesters. Inside the tanks, natural bacteria break down the food waste over several weeks.
This produces biogas, a renewable energy made mainly of methane and carbon dioxide. The biogas is used to generate electricity and heat for the site and nearby businesses.
What remains is a nutrient-rich liquid called digestate, which farmers use as fertiliser to improve soil and grow crops. So full circle - some of the food fertised by your scraps may end up back on your plate and back in your caddy - ready to do it all again!

By recycling food waste separately:

Energy is produced more efficiently.
Valuable nutrients are recovered.
Waste is treated using a process designed specifically for food.
Carbon impact is lower than incineration.
Food waste recycling supports a circular approach, where waste is reused in the most effective and sustainable way possible.
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Food waste recycling process drawing