Minutes:
M Kind provided an update on the Council’s new Food Waste Collection Scheme to residents. The Chair noted ahead of the update that this is due to instruction from Central Government, and is not an OWBC decision to implement. Funding for the collection scheme has been provided by Central Government. OWBC is “ahead of the game” with implementation of the scheme compared to other Council’s in Leicestershire, with Councils all seeking to secure suitable bins and vehicles for the scheme from relevant suppliers. The collections will be weekly, alongside existing refuse and recycling collections, by a dedicated vehicle. Bins will be provided to residents in February / March 2026 with a 23 litre bin, a 7 litre bin, and a starter pack of recyclable food waste bags and a leaflet explaining the scheme, and what can and cannot be placed in the bins. OWBC bins will be grey with a brightly coloured lid. Collections from shared accommodation will be different, with those residents updated. New vehicles are promised to the Council in January 2026. If bins are found to have something in them that can’t be composted then they will not be collected from the roadside. Assisted collections already in place for refuse and recycling will continue with the food waste collections. Currently waste is delivered from Oadby & Wigston to Whetstone as LCC are the disposal agency, BioGen will collect the food waste from Whetstone who will then put it through a pasteurisation process resulting in materials that will either be used as fertilizer, or used to generate renewable energy. There is no requirement for residents to use the bags in the bins, but it is recommended for hygiene reasons. Any plastic bag can be used in these bins as they are stripped out automatically as part of the waste processing performed by BioGen.
Residents asked if participation in the scheme is compulsory. It was confirmed that it isn’t, but the bin will be delivered to the property regardless and will belong to the house as the current refuse and recycling bins do. Participation is compulsory for businesses however.
It was also asked if bigger bins would be available as some households generate a lot of vegetable waste, and are concerned that they would fill the bin despite weekly collections. There is uncertainty if a bigger bin would be available to residents upon request at present. Vegetable peelings etc. can be placed into garden waste bins, but no other food waste as this would create contamination.
The Chair noted that funding to run the service for the first year is from the Government, but no funding will be available afterwards. All districts and boroughs have written to DEFRA to request confirmation as to what funding and support is in place for the scheme after year one.
The bins will have a sticker on top which says no oils or liquids should be put in the bin. Meat can be placed in the bins too which is why the bins lock by folding the handle over the top of the bin. Residents are concerned that some animals may work out how to open the bins once they are placed out for collection, and that on a windy day the bins (especially empty) are vulnerable to being blown over.
There is a concern that putting food waste bins out will also attract rats into gardens etc. The lockable bins should deter rats but the Council does note that as a nationwide scheme it must implement it, and any issues that then arise will be addressed.
A resident also queried what can be placed in to the Council’s ‘dry’ recycling bins as this varies area by area. This variation highlights why the food waste collection scheme is a national scheme, with the same criteria in place nationwide. Dry recycling that can be placed in bins in the Borough is influenced by the contracts LCC have in place, as the disposal agency, with downstream waste processers. A list of suitable items is on the Council’s website but residents note that it may not be easily found. It was requested that LCC’s Waste Officers are invited to a future meeting, as per previous attendance, to talk about what can and can’t be placed in our bins.
A resident noted that she had used a similar scheme in South London previously, and that there shouldn’t be a large amount of food waste being generated. The bin also creates a lot of condensation so needs to be emptied regularly. Soft plastics can be disposed off at most supermarkets for recycling, including Sainsburys and Tesco. There is a feeling that some households will rethink their approach to food and portion sizes etc. once they see how much waste they are generating.