Key Points
- Barnet Council will reintroduce a weekly food waste collection and recycling service starting from the week commencing 30 March 2026.
- Between January and March 2026, each home will receive a brown kitchen caddy for indoor food waste collection and a small brown outside food waste bin.
- Blocks of flats and community housing will get a much larger food waste recycling bin for bin stores and outside use.
- Collections will occur on the same day as regular recycling and waste collections.
- Food waste will be processed into clean energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farmland.
- The service was previously abandoned in November 2018 to save £300,000 annually, against the advice of the Mayor of London.
- New government regulations mandate separate food waste collections from household waste, prompting the reinstatement.
- Costs include £1.3 million for new kitchen caddies and kerbside bins, and £2.8 million for hiring a food waste collection vehicle for five years from Riverside Truck Rental Ltd.
- The council has received £2.7 million in first-tranche capital grant funding.
- Barnet’s current household waste recycling rate stands at 27.3 per cent, expected to rise by around 4 per cent with food waste recycling.
- Councillor Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, stated: “Barnet is proud to support residents to recycle efficiently – doing our bit for the environment and future generations.”
- Past complaints from residents during the five-year service period (pre-2018) included lack of space for multiple bins.
- Many repurposed food waste bins and caddies from the previous service remain in circulation among householders.
Barnet Council Announces Revival of Food Waste Recycling Amid New Mandates
Barnet Council has confirmed plans to reinstate its weekly food waste collection service, dormant since 2018, with deliveries of new containers to households commencing in January 2026. This move aligns with impending government regulations requiring separate food waste collections across local authorities. Residents can anticipate receiving essential equipment to facilitate the service, which resumes fully from the week of 30 March 2026.
The announcement evokes a sense of nostalgia for many, as households once again prepare for dedicated food waste bins—a fixture absent for seven years due to prior cost-saving measures. Collections will synchronise with existing recycling and waste pickup days, minimising disruption.
What Containers Will Households Receive for Food Waste Collection?
Each single-family home in Barnet will be supplied with two key items between January and March 2026: a brown kitchen caddy designed for indoor collection of food waste and a small brown outside food waste bin for kerbside presentation. As detailed in the council’s official statement, these containers aim to streamline household recycling efforts.
For residents in blocks of flats and community housing, a larger food waste recycling bin will be provided specifically for bin stores and outdoor communal areas. This tailored approach addresses varying property types across the borough.
The council emphasises that food waste gathered through this service will undergo processing to generate clean energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser, destined for local farmland. This closed-loop system underscores the environmental benefits driving the reinstatement.
Why Was the Food Waste Service Discontinued in 2018?
The original food waste collection service operated successfully for five years prior to its suspension in November 2018. As reported by Barry Rekker of Barnet Post in the article “Barnet Council to reintroduce food waste collection service – households will receive new food caddies and bins over next few weeks,” the council abandoned the service amid a cost-cutting drive to save an annual £300,000.
This decision proceeded against the advice of the Mayor of London, who had urged continuity. Householders across the borough previously received a full set of equipment—including kitchen food waste caddies and brown bins—as evidenced by circa 2018 imagery referenced in the coverage.
During that period, some residents voiced complaints about insufficient space for accommodating multiple bins on their properties. Following withdrawal, many repurposed their food waste bins and caddies for alternative uses, with large numbers of these containers still circulating today.
What New Government Regulations Are Driving This Change?
Fresh mandates from the UK government now compel local councils to segregate food waste from general household refuse. These regulations, as cited in multiple reports including the Barnet Post piece by Barry Rekker, necessitate the service’s revival nationwide.
To support compliance, grants are available to local authorities for procuring new containers and collection vehicles. Barnet Council has already secured the first tranche of capital grant funding amounting to £2.7 million.
This funding directly offsets implementation costs, ensuring the borough meets statutory requirements without undue financial strain on local taxpayers.
How Much Will the Reintroduction Cost Barnet Council?
Procurement expenses for the new initiative are substantial yet grant-supported. The kitchen caddies and kerbside bins for the entire borough will cost £1.3 million.
Additionally, the council will hire a dedicated food waste collection vehicle for five years from Riverside Truck Rental Ltd at a cost of £2.8 million. These figures, drawn from the Barnet Post reporting by Barry Rekker, highlight the scale of investment required.
The initial £2.7 million grant covers much of the upfront capital outlay, with ongoing operational costs anticipated to be managed through efficiencies and recycling revenues.
What Impact Will This Have on Barnet’s Recycling Rates?
Barnet’s current recycling rate for household waste refuse lingers at 27.3 per cent. Council projections indicate a boost of approximately 4 per cent upon full integration of food waste recycling.
This uplift promises tangible environmental gains, diverting organic waste from landfills and harnessing it for energy and fertiliser production. As noted in the coverage, the service’s revival positions Barnet to enhance its sustainability credentials.
What Does Barnet Council Leadership Say About the Service?
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, expressed enthusiasm for the reinstatement. As reported by Barry Rekker of Barnet Post, he stated:
“Barnet is proud to support residents to recycle efficiently – doing our bit for the environment and future generations.”
This sentiment reflects a broader commitment to ecological stewardship amid regulatory pressures.
When Exactly Will Food Waste Collections Resume?
The service kicks off from the week commencing 30 March 2026, with container deliveries spanning January to March. Collections will align seamlessly with residents’ established recycling and waste schedules.
Householders might experience a touch of déjà vu, as the council urges participation akin to pre-2018 efforts. Preparations ensure minimal confusion during rollout.
How Will Food Waste Be Processed After Collection?
Collected food waste will transform into valuable resources: clean energy through anaerobic digestion and nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farmland application. This process, highlighted in the Barnet Post article, maximises the material’s potential while curbing methane emissions from landfills.
What Challenges Did Residents Face Previously?
Space constraints plagued some properties during the original five-year run, leading to complaints about bin proliferation. Repurposed caddies and bins abound today, suggesting residents adapted creatively post-2018.
The council’s current plan, with scaled bins for flats, aims to mitigate such issues.
How Does This Fit into Broader Environmental Goals?
Barnet’s move aligns with national Simpler Recycling reforms, mandating weekly food waste collections by March 2026. As per government directives covered in outlets like Barnet Post, it fosters higher recycling rates and reduces borough-wide emissions.
Councillor Schneiderman’s remarks underscore intergenerational equity, protecting future generations through efficient waste management.
