Food waste recycling in private blocks
We provide food waste collections and equipment to all private blocks of flats in Wandsworth for free.
We're contacting all managing agents to agree where a communal food recycling wheelie bin could be placed. We also encourage agents to complete the form on this page to kick start the process.
Providing this service is part of our drive to offer free weekly food recycling collections to all households, which is a legal requirement from the end of March 2026.
What we provide
Our standard communal food waste package for flats using communal bins can only be ordered by managing agents. It includes:
- 5 litre silver food waste caddies for each flat, for use in kitchens
- A starter roll of compostable liners to help keep caddies clean
- Printed leaflets and letters explaining how to use the service - digital versions available
- A 240 litre lid-in-lid wheelie bin for residents to empty their caddies into - it must be placed in an accessible communal area
- Weekly collections of the 240 litre bin
Order bins and caddies
If you're a managing agent, you can order bins and caddies for your block. We can't start collections in response to requests from individual flats.
You can read the information on this page to find out more about the service.
Assessing blocks
We've visited most private blocks of flats and have assessed the number of bins required for each premises.
If we haven’t assessed your premises yet, we'll arrange a visit before delivering any caddies and communal bins.
Access and delivery
Communal food recycling bins will be placed in the bin store, unless otherwise requested.
The contractor delivering the bins is the same contractor responsible for collections. They should have all bin store codes or keys required. We may ask you to confirm this before delivery.
Access will need to be provided to deliver caddies, a starter pack of liners, and leaflets explaining the new food recycling service to each resident’s door. Otherwise caddies can be left at a single point for residents to pick up themselves.
Our team will be available on delivery day to answer any questions the residents may have.
Collections
The food waste bins will be collected by the same contractor that collects refuse and mixed recycling.
The contractor will use a dedicated food waste collection vehicle.
Cost
There's no charge for providing bins, equipment, or the collection of food waste for recycling.
If used effectively alongside existing dry recycling services, it may even be possible to reduce the number of general waste bins in some locations.
Cleaning
The 240 litre bin will be cleaned twice a year. One additional ad-hoc cleanse can be requested each year by emailing foodwasterecycling@wandsworth.gov.uk.
Liners
A starter pack of bio-caddy liners will be provided to help residents keep the caddies clean. The liners are also available for free at local libraries. Alternatively, they can be purchased at grocery stores.
Residents can also line the caddy with a newspaper, or not line it at all and simply rinse it out after emptying.
Odours and pests
Recycling food waste diverts it from refuse bins into a dedicated food waste container. These containers are smaller and have lockable lids which make them easier to clean, reduce odours and keep rodents and flies out.
Large refuse bin lids are often left open. This can lead to the bins overfilling and food waste spilling onto the floor. Loose food waste can attract vermin, and makes the bin store untidy.
By separating food waste, the bin store should be cleaner, and the refuse bins less likely to overflow, smell, or attract rodents and flies.
Why recycle food waste
Recycling food waste, through 'anaerobic digestion', significantly reduces environmental impacts. It generates green biogas for the National Gas Grid and produces a 'digestate' (liquid fertiliser) for use on farmland.
This reduces the need for fossil fuels, improves agricultural soils and reduces chemical fertiliser use. Recycling food waste also avoids waste disposal costs of over £170 per tonne.
If you don't comply
If managing agents unreasonably refuse to put communal food recycling bins on their site, we may transfer responsibility for arranging the collection, disposal and treatment of all waste and recycling to the agent.
Agents would need to arrange this at their own expense, complying with new Simpler Recycling requirements. This includes the separate collection of food waste, metal, plastic, glass, paper and card for recycling.
Section 46 of the Environment Act 1990 (as amended), allows us to transfer responsibility.
Contact us
If you have any queries or ongoing problems with food waste collections for your block, email foodwasterecycling@wandsworth.gov.uk.
We'll be in touch to assist.