Food waste changes coming to Coventry and Warwickshire

Food waste caddies are on their way across Coventry and Warwickshire, but when yours will arrive depends on where you live.

Some councils have been collecting food waste separately for a while, whereas others are still months behind a government deadline of 31 March.

Last week, Coventry City Council announced it would begin weekly collections from September, with caddies now being delivered to homes across the city.

The BBC has been taking a look at all the local authorities across the city and wider Warwickshire. Here is what is happening in your area.

Under the government's new Simpler Recycling scheme, all councils in England must now provide a separate weekly food waste service.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has given out more than £340m in grants to councils to provide the service, which has been described as "the biggest shake-up in recycling policy in England in 20 years".

However, a BBC investigation in March found one in four English councils did not expect to meet the deadline.

Councils blamed the delay on demand for new specialist vehicles, as well as issues with funding.

The council confirmed last week that every household would receive a 23-litre lockable outdoor food waste caddy over the summer, with deliveries now under way. Weekly collections begin on 7 September.

Residents will be able to recycle most food waste including plate scrapings, peelings, tea bags and pet food. Liquids, packaging and garden waste cannot go in.

"Food waste makes up a significant proportion of what ends up in Coventry's rubbish bins," said councillor Patricia Heatherton, cabinet member for city services.

"By separating it out, residents can help turn waste into something useful - from renewable energy to fertiliser for local farms. It really is recycling at its very best."

However, the September launch is five months after the government deadline.

When the plans were discussed at a council scrutiny meeting in March, some councillors raised concerns about the potential for confusion if food waste is collected on a different day to other bins.

"I think it is going to be chaos," councillor Grace Lewis said at the time. "I don't want to be too pessimistic, but I just don't see this working."

North Warwickshire Borough Council, meanwhile, will introduce weekly food waste collections from 6 July.

Food waste will be collected in a dedicated vehicle on the same day as other waste and recycling.

The council has said the service is mandatory and fully funded by the government.

No start date has been confirmed for Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council yet.

Late last year, the council said it was ordering equipment and aiming to begin collections in the latter months of 2026.

Last month, the council confirmed to CoventryLive that the service would be up and running by October.

The council insists residents are being kept up to date with information during the delay.

Rugby plans to start food waste collections in July.

Residents are currently being provided with free food waste caddies, which began in May.

"Our new food waste collection service will enhance waste management practices across the borough," the Rugby Borough Council website reads.

"[This will make] the process more efficient and environmentally friendly."

The districts of Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick already collect food waste separately.

According to Warwickshire County Council, waste from both areas is processed at an anaerobic digestion plant where gases are captured to generate electricity for the national grid.

When food caddies are up and running, most food waste will be accepted. This includes plate scrapings, peelings, cooked food, bones, meat, fish, tea bags and pet food.

Liquids, packaging and garden waste should not be included, however.

Warwickshire County Council advises lining your caddy with newspaper or a compostable liner to keep it clean.

It says residents in the region should contact their local council for the most up-to-date information.

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