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Waste and Recycling

Household Food Waste Collections

As required by the UK Government, we will soon be introducing a new weekly household food waste collection across the Malvern Hills district.  

This will be collected weekly on the same day we collect your other waste and recycling.  

You will be provided with a 7 litre kitchen caddy, a 23 litre food waste bin (for outside), a roll of liners to line the caddy, and an information leaflet. 

This service will be rolled out gradually across the Malvern Hills district with the first trial round starting in October 2026. If the trial is successful, we expect full coverage across the district by October 2027. 

We will contact you directly when the service will come to your area. In the meantime, you will not need to do anything.  

This webpage will be updated closer to the launch of the service.  

Whilst we are required to provide this service, our preference is that households produce little to no food waste. Please visit our Food Savvy webpage for more information about how you can reduce your food waste and tips on how to compost any food waste you do have. 

If you need help or information that you cannot find on our website, then please call us on 01684 862490 between 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

Q.  When will it be my turn? 

A. The service will be rolled out gradually starting on 5 October 2026. We will contact you directly when the service will come to your area. In the meantime, you will not need to do anything. 

Q.  Will I be expected to pay for this service?

A. There is no fee for this service.

Q.  What can I put in my food waste bin? 

All of these items can be recycled:  

  • All uneaten food and plate scrapings 
  • Raw meat, cooked meat and bones 
  • Fish, cooked fish and bones 
  • Dairy products, cheese and eggs 
  • Teabags and coffee grounds 
  • Rice, pasta and beans 
  • Bread, cakes and pastries 
  • Raw and cooked vegetables, whole fruit and peelings 
  • Mouldy and out of date food 

Q.  What if I don’t produce any food waste? 

A.  Remember there is no amount too small. The best thing we can do with our food is enjoy it but some waste like banana skins, tea bags and bones are unavoidable and can all be recycled. 

Q.  I already compost, why should I use the service? 

A. That’s great! Home composting is a brilliant way to recycle nutrients and make soil improver for your garden. For any food waste you can’t compost, like cooked food, you can use the Household Food Waste Collection service. 

Q.  What happens to food waste once collected? 

A. In the Malvern Hills District, around 37% of waste in an average bin is food (according to a waste analysis done by Let’s Waste Less in 2021). 

When recycled, food waste can be turned into something useful. Your food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it is used to generate natural forms of energy, such as biogas, an excellent alternative to fossil fuels and a fertiliser which can be used in farming. 

Q.  What does Anaerobic Digestion mean? 

A.  This process uses microorganisms to break down food waste in the absence of oxygen, inside an enclosed system. As it breaks down it gives off methane, which is collected and converted into biogas and used to generate electricity, heat or transport fuels. It also creates nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land regeneration. 

You can find out more about anaerobic digestion on the Severn Trent website

Q.  I don’t have time to do this – why should I? 

A.  It’s easy, we will provide the kitchen caddy (for inside) and food waste bin (for outside bin), so all you need to do is follow the instructions in the leaflet. You don’t need to wash or prepare anything, you can just scrape your plate into the caddy and go.

Like any other habit, it just takes time for your new food waste routine to become second nature. Keeping your food waste caddy under the sink or together with your general waste bin will help you remember to separate your food waste when you’re putting things into the bin.  

Using your food waste caddies means less rubbish goes to incineration, which is better for the environment and can save money. The average family throws away £700 of food a year, but once people see what’s being wasted, shopping habits often change and bills go down.

Q.  I don’t have space for the caddy, what should I do? 

A.  A lot of people find that keeping it under the sink, next to the kitchen bin or on the work top is practical. The caddy size is 7 litres which is smaller than the average wastepaper bin. Remember you can use your own container if you prefer something more stylish or it fits better in your kitchen. 

Q.  Will the food in my bin smell? 

A.  Not if you empty your kitchen caddy regularly into the outside food waste bin and tie up the liners. Your outdoor bin has a sealable and lockable lid which will stop smells getting out. The food waste bin will be collected frequently, on a weekly basis, which will avoid food being stored for long periods. 

Q.  Can I opt out of the service? 

A.  You will automatically receive a caddy and an outside bin. It is recommended that you do take part as there are many benefits. By recycling properly, we can reduce our impact on the environment and turn more of the district’s food waste into green energy and fertiliser for local farms. 

Q. I have a sack collection, when will it be my turn for the service?

A. The service will be delivered on a roll-out basis to households with existing bins at first. We will then review the service and will contact people on a sack collection when it is their turn.

Q. How many liners will I get and what do I do when they run out?

A. You’ll receive an initial roll of liners with your indoor caddy to help you get started. These are just for convenience- you don’t need to make them last a whole year. Once they run out, you can buy more from most supermarkets or food stores. 

You don’t have to use the supplied liners. Old bread bags, plastic shopping bags, newspaper or kitchen roll all work just as well. We are not providing compostable liners. The anaerobic digestion facility removes all liners at the front end of the process whatever they are made of as packaging does not breakdown at the same rate as the food itself. 

 

Commercial Food Waste Collection Service

On the 31 March 2025 the Government introduced Simpler Recycling Legislation requiring businesses across England with more than ten full-time employees to separate their food waste. 

Find out more about the Government’s new Simpler Recycling Legislation.

Who does this apply to? 

All workplaces in England, including: 

  • Businesses 
  • Care homes 
  • Educational establishments 
  • Healthcare establishments 
  • Places of worship 
  • Penal institutes 
  • Charity shops 
  • Residential hostels 
  • Premises used for public meetings 

Bin sizes and price per lift 

180-litre bin

 £5 per lift

The service is a weekly collection from a 180-litre bin.

The service cost includes a 23-litre caddy to help you move your food waste from your kitchen to the outside bin.

For this service, you can use any liner you wish in the internal caddy which can then be securely tied and placed into the external bin. Please note MHDC will not be providing these liners. 

If you are interested in signing up, please contact us with your details via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we can send out the appropriate information or documentation.

Items we accept

We accept:

  • meat and bones
  • fruit and vegetables
  • dairy
  • eggs and eggshells
  • tea and coffee grounds
  • bread and pastries
  • fish

Items we don't accept

We don't accept:

  • black sacks
  • plastic bin bags or liners
  • all types of packaging
  • cooking oil or liquid fat
  • liquids such as milk
  • garden waste

How we recycle your food waste

We use a process called Anaerobic Digestion (AD).

This process uses microorganisms to break down the food waste in an enclosed system, The absence of oxygen helps to break down the food waste.

The result is methane coming off which is collected and converted into biogas. Biogas is used to generate electricity or heat. The AD process also creates a nutrient-rich material which is used as a fertiliser for land regeneration.

FAQs

What bins will Trade Food Waste Customers get?

As standard, a 23 litre caddy and a 180 litre wheeled bin. The 23 litre for indoor use. The 180 litre wheeled bin is for presentation outside for collection. The idea being that you can carry your food waste to the wheeled bin using the 23 litre caddies.

Can I ask for more than one caddy?

Unfortunately we are unable to supply extra caddies. The ratio is one per 180L wheeled collection bin. If you require more caddies these will need to be purchased by your business.  

Am I required by law to have a food waste bin?

If you have 10 FTE or more across your business (even if they are not all based at one site) and generate any amount of food waste, you are required to have a separate food waste bin alongside your residual waste bin. 

We have multiple sites, can they just have a bin at one site for all waste and transfer waste?

No, you will need a bin at all sites. 

Can I have more than one food waste bin?

You can have as many wheeled bins for food waste as you would like, you will have to pay the collection/disposal fee for each one. 

Will you provide liners for food waste? If not, can they use their own bags?

No, we will not be providing liners.

Yes, you can use your own caddy liners and these can be made of non-compostable or compostable material. 

Please do not use standard plastic bin liners in either the caddy or the collection bin. Liners from the caddy should be placed directly into the collection bin. 

Will you clean the bins for us?

No, it will be the requirement of the customer to clean the bin, if they wish.

 

Food Savvy

A banner with different food items with cartoony googly eyes. The wording says 'Back to savvy'.

It’s time to get #FoodSavvy!

Your family could save over £60 a month whilst doing your bit for the environment, by eating more of the food you buy. Sound simple? It is, below are our tips to get you started. 

Plan like a pro

Planning your meals and your shopping is one of the easiest ways to save food as well as money as you only buy what you need to make your meals. 

Here are some tips on how you can plan your meals:

  • Use a simple meal planner to plan your meals.
  • Check what you already have at home and plan what needs eating up first
  • Label foods that need using first so it’s easy to spot what you’ve got
  • Keep a list of what's in the fridge and cupboards before you go shopping so you don’t over buy.  
  • Buy foods that can be used for several dishes. Set aside some time to batch cook for the week so that you have meals that can be put in the fridge or freezer
  • Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables will keep the cost down
  • When shopping look for the food with the longest “Use By” dates
  • Don’t overcook - use a measure to get the right amount of food
  • Ensuring you have the right portion sizes helps.  

Shop smart

Once you have planned your meals and written your shopping list the inevitable trip to the supermarket can create extra food (and money) if you are not careful, so here are some tips to help you shop a bit smarter:

  • Always shop with a list and stick to the list unless you have to make an alternative
  • If you feel tempted by a bargain in store that’s not on your list, think about whether that item can be used, frozen or stored for a later date;
  • It might be cheaper to buy in bulk
  • Buy fruit and vegetables loose if possible as it not only gives you control of the quality of the food, but you also only buy what you need.  
  • Don’t buy food with a fast-approaching use-by date unless you know you are going to eat it
  • Online shopping is great if you have meal plans that you keep going back to, save a list for each plan

Storing your food

One of the most important things to do once you have bought your food is to store it as best you can to extend its life. 

Having a good selection of tubs and bag clips will also help keep food fresher for longer. Takeaway containers make ideal storage tubs for batch cooking as they tend to hold one portion of food. Bag clips keep crisps, bread, cereal and frozen food fresh, but you can use pegs if you don’t have any bag clips!

Make sure your fridge is set at the correct temperature – most fridges are set too high and that will contribute to food going off. Your fridge should be between 0 and 5°C. 

Here are the best places to store fruit and vegetables:

Potatoes and sweet potatoes – best kept in a cool, dark cupboard. Don’t worry if they start to sprout – cut these off and use the rest of the potato

Apples – put these in the fridge in their original packaging. If you buy them loose put them in a container in the fridge

Bananas – keep them in a  cool, dark place ideally, but not the fridge. Keep them away from other fruit as they emit ethanol, which makes other fruit ripen more quickly

Avocados – store in the fridge or on the counter to ripen them quickly.  If you only need half, keep the stone in the half you are not using and sprinkle with lemon juice

A full A-Z of storage is available at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/lets-waste-less/reduce/z-food-storage-tips-and-advice

Freezing your food

Freezing food is one of the easiest and quickest ways to hit the pause button and most foods can be frozen – even bananas! 

Using your freezer will certainly help you cut the amount of food you throw away by up to a third and with the average family now throwing away nearly £1000 of perfectly edible food away every year, it will bring some massive savings for your too. 

Here’s some tips to help you make your freezer your friend:

  • Check your freezer regularly to ensure you are using up the food that has been there the longest
  • Write on tubs what the item is and the date it was put in the freezer to avoid “UFO’s” (Unidentified Frozen Objects);
  • Change to frozen vegetables - picked and frozen at is prime and has no less nutritional value than fresh. They are usually prepped so you can use as much as you want and are ideal for stews, curries or soup.  
  • Set aside a day for a “freezer forage” and cook up meals that day using just your store cupboard ingredients and stuff from the freezer
  • Try and fill your freezer as much as possible to enable it to work more efficiently
  • Allow hot food to cool down naturally before putting it in the freezer – this is particularly important if you are batch cooking
  • Check the temperature – freezers should be set at -18°C
  • Foods that can be easily frozen

How to eat seasonally

It's sometimes hard to know which foods are in season in the UK, particularly when there's so much available on supermarket shelves throughout the year.

Eating seasonally is when you are eating foods that are ready to harvest at the same time of year that you are eating them.

We've put together this simple month by month guide, delicious seasonal recipe ideas and quick tips on foraging and growing your own salads to help.

Locally produced seasonal food is tasty and healthy as nutrients and flavours have fully developed, we've also often found it more affordable.

Eating local foods in season offers an environmental bonus as the produce will have travelled fewer miles and it is less likely to be found in plastic packaging.

It will also have needed fewer pesticides and inorganic fertilisers to grow. Buying directly from a farm shop or a veg box scheme can be a handy way to help you munch month by month.

Know your dates

According to waste agency, WRAP, approximately £5.7 billion worth of food is wasted each year as it is ‘not used in time.’

Confusion around what date labels mean and storage guidance is a major contributing factor.

Whilst food waste has implications for our hard earned cash, wasting food also puts a strain on our natural resources and increases greenhouse gases.

The biggest source of confusion is the difference between Best Before and Use By Dates. 

What the dates mean

Use By Date is about safety 

Use By Dates relate to the food’s safety and are the most important date to remember! Foods can be eaten (and most can be frozen) up until the Use By Date, but not after. You will see Use By Dates on food that goes off quickly, such as meat products or ready-prepared salads. For the Use By to be a valid guide, you must carefully follow storage instructions. 

Best Before Date is about quality 

Best Before Dates relate to the quality of the food, not its safety, the food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best in terms of texture or flavour.

However, in many instances, food will taste the same after its Best Before Date. In some cases, these foods can be given a new lease of life with a quick culinary transformation.

For example, vegetables that are bendy or withered can be cooked. Bread that is a little stale can be toasted. Biscuits that are a little soft can be put into puddings and cheese can be trimmed down or melted. 

The Best Before Dates appear on a wide range of fresh, frozen, dried and tinned foods. Like the Use By Date, the Best Before Date will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the label and your fridge is at the correct temperature.

Five common foods with best before dates

Batch cooking

Batch cooking is a great way to have meals already prepared and in the freezer so that you always have something to eat. 

For people who live alone it allows you to buy regular sized portions of meat etc and not let it go to waste. 

Here are our top tips for meal prepping like a pro - the simple way:

  • Pick dishes that have common ingredients so that your shopping list doesn’t become too long
  • Get creative if you are missing something, and identify another ingredient you do have that could offer a similar texture, flavour or nutrition profile
  • Make sure you have an hour or two free to cook your meal prep
  • Cheating is ok - frozen vegetables, ready-made pastes and delicious jar sauces can all save you time
  • Cooking should be fun, put some music or a podcast on to cook to
  • Mass chop - garlic, onions and some other vegetables will feature across each of your dishes
  • Clean as you go, a big pile of washing up can seem more daunting
  • Cook in a way that suits you and your abilities, if you can cook two dishes at once, then great, that will save time
  • Make sure you have enough containers for everything you are going to cook
  • Make sure you have enough space for your tasty meals in your fridge or freezer, as food in the freezer will keep for much longer

Eat what you buy

Using up all the food you buy is the most important way to reduce the amount that is wasted and learning to love your leftovers along with shopping and storing food are the easiest ways to do this.

Turning leftover food and meals into a delicious new meal or a tasty snack will save you money and make your shop last longer. 

Ideas:

Find other recipes on the LetsWasteLess website

 

Waste and Recycling

Collection - Recycle - Dispose

  • Waste and Recycling

  • Bins and Collections

  • Recycling

  • Garden Waste

  • Commercial Waste and Recycling

  • Bulky Waste

  • Assisted Collection Service

  • Household Food Waste Collection

Other

Waste and Recycling services

Find more information about the following topics to discover exactly what you are looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

You have a question? We have an answer.

  • I have been told that my bin is contaminated. What can I do now?

    Remove the contamination from your bin and present it for collection on your next collection day. You can take any additional waste to your local Household Recycling Centre - Household Recycling Centres | Worcestershire County Council.

     

  • What if my bin is lost damaged or stolen?

    You can report that your bin is damaged or lost (and anything else waste and recycling related) online using our Waste and Recycling Services page.

  • What can I put in my black and green bins?

    Plastic bottles and packaging (except black plastic), cans, tins, paper, card, glass bottles and jars can go in your green bin. Nappies do NOT go in your green bin.

  • Can I have another black bin?

    No. Each household is entitled to one black waste bin. Some households have managed to gain a second bin over the years and we are currently undertaking a project to remove these bins. If you meet a certain criteria, you may be entitled to a larger 240 litre bin but most households are entitled to a 180 litre black waste bin. If you believe you meet the criteria, you can request a larger bin using our Waste and Recycling Services page.

  • Can I have another green bin?

    We do allow residents to have an additional green recycling bin and this can be requested using our Waste and Recycling Services page.

  • Can I leave black sacks at the side of my bin for collection?

    No. Excess waste must be disposed of at one of the Household Waste and Recycling Centres. We do allow additional bags to be collected over the Christmas period.

  • What can I do to prevent maggots in my bin?

    Keeping your bin clean with the lid closed should prevent maggots. Food waste should be wrapped prior to disposal.

  • I have trouble moving my wheelie bins, can I get help?

    You can request an assisted collection, if you are unable to move your wheelie bins yourself. This can be done using our Assisted Collection Service page.

  • Will the Council clean my bin?

    It is your responsibility to clean your bin. We do not offer a cleaning service or recommend any companies that carry out a service like this.

News

Read more …Waste and Recycling

Bins and Collections

Current Service Updates 

General Message - Bin Deliveries 

We are currently running slightly behind with our bin deliveries. Please bear with us as we make plans to catch these up as soon as we can. Please present sacks on waste weeks and recycling can be presented in cardboard boxes or clear sacks on recycling weeks. 

Wednesday 10th June

We have been unable to make collections from Jacomb Close, Lower Broadheath, WR2 6SQ due to roadworks taking place in the area. We attempted to collect on Thursday 11th June but our access was again blocked. We will be returning early on the morning of  Friday 12th June to attempt the collections again. Please ensure your bin is at the usual collection point for the crew to access.

 

Use these links to find the information you need:

 

How your waste and recycling collection works

In Malvern Hills we use black bins for general rubbish and food waste and green bins for recycling.

One week we collect your black bin and one week we collect your green bin. You can check your bin collection day to find out what bin to put out and when.

To help our bin collection crews please make sure:

  • Your bin is at the boundary of your home nearest the public highway (road or path).
  • You put your bin out by 7am on the day of your collection.
  • The lid is closed. We may not collect your bin if the lid isn’t fully closed.
  • All waste is in the bin. We do not collect waste left at the side of bins. If you have too much recycling you can put it in a clear sack or recyclable container next to the bin or you can ask for an extra green recycling bin. Just select add/remove/replace bin or sack.

We will only empty bins we have provided and have our name and logo on them.

Find out what happens to your waste 

My bin hasn’t been collected

If you have put your bin out correctly and it still hasn’t been emptied then please tell us by using our missed bin online reporting form. 

If bin collections are not taking place as normal, because of roadworks, snow, ice, flooding or for other reasons, we will put information on this page. You can also sign up to our waste and recycling e-newsletter (opens in new window) to get information sent directly to your inbox as well as advice on waste reduction and recycling. 

Find your bin collection date

If you have forgotten what bin to put out when or would like to know when your usual collection day is, then use our online calendar. You can also download a waste and recycling collection calendar for the whole year.

Use the bin collection day finder

Ask for an extra or bigger bin 

Our standard black wheeled bin size is 180 litres, which will hold about three to four black sacks of waste.

We do have a larger 240 litre black bin available but these will only be given out to homes with six or more people living in them, or those that have children in nappies, or produce a lot of non-hazardous medical waste.

Our standard green recycling bins can take up to 240 litres of recyclable items. If you create a lot of recycling then you can ask for a larger or extra green bin.

Use our online form to ask for extra or larger bins and select add/remove/replace bin or sack.

Communal bins 

If you require communal bins, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss requirements. 

We only accept requests for rolls of black sacks from residents living in exempt properties. We will not accept bulk requests from housing associations/building developers or contractors.  

Sack collections

Unfortunately, some homes cannot have wheeled bins because of access issues.

Instead of bins, these homes will be given cherry coloured sacks for recycling and black sacks for general rubbish and food waste.

These are delivered in the summer months each year and each household is given one roll of black general waste sacks and one roll of cherry coloured recycling sacks. 

Sacks are collected on an alternate weekly basis; cherry recycling sacks one week and black sacks the next. You can put out a maximum of 4 black sacks per fortnightly collection. We will only issue one roll of black sacks per year. If you require more, these will need to be purchased by yourself.

Please note that wheelie bin liner sacks should not be used as they cannot be lifted on to the collection vehicle safely by our crews due to the weight and size. 

Please note that waste should be presented in standard sized bin sacks rather than in smaller swing/pedal bin liners or tied carrier bags. 

On the week of your recycling collection you can put out as many cherry sacks as you like. You can get extra recycling sacks by requesting them from our website.

Sacks must be put out by the boundary of your home by 7am on the day of your collection.

You can dispose of broken glass in your black sack providing it is securely wrapped. You cannot put glass into your cherry sacks all glass bottles and jars should be taken to Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) or please use your local recycling banks.

Request Cherry Recycling Sacks

Help putting your bin or sacks out

We recognise that not all our residents are physically able to place their bins at the edge of their property on their own. If you are unable to place your bins out, you can request an assisted collection from your property.  

Once you have requested the service, your assisted collection will start on your next collection day. If there are any issues, we will contact you. 

Request assisted bin collections(opens in a new window)

Bank Holiday and Christmas collection dates

We collect bins as normal on bank holidays, apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day when there may be changes to the usual collection schedule. We will put information about Christmas collection dates on this page and in the local press or sign up for our e-newsletter and we will send them straight to your inbox. 

Items we don’t accept 

There are some items you cannot put in your household black bin. Please see below what we do not accept. 

  • Cooking oil or fat (even if solidified)
  • Builder's rubble
  • Floor and Quarry Tiles
  • Fluorescent tubes
  • Paint
  • Resins
  • Adhesives
  • Asbestos
  • Plasterboard
  • Waste electrical and electronic equipment
  • Batteries
  • Liquid waste
  • End of life vehicles or parts thereof
  • Tyres (whole or shredded)
  • Animal parts including offal, bones, skin etc.
  • Clinical waste – in particular sharps 
  • Garden waste
  • No hot ashes

Glass in sacks 

If you need to put broken glass in to your bin, please ensure it is safely wrapped in newspaper or any other protective item to ensure you and our operatives are not at risk of being cut by shards of glass. 

Hazardous waste 

We cannot collect poisonous, hazardous, clinical waste or builders rubble. 

From 1 April 2009 it became illegal to mix gypsum and other high sulphate wastes with biodegradable waste in landfill in England and Wales. The mix produces toxic hydrogen sulphide gas. The most common gypsum based products are plaster and plasterboard. These will not be accepted. 

Please contact The Environment Agency(opens in a new window) who will provide advice on disposal. 

Bin weight limits

The weight limits for the domestic bins are as below

180 litre - 72kg

240 litre - 110kg

360 litre - 160kg

Contact us

If you need help or information with your waste and recycling collections that you cannot find on our website then please call us on 01684 862490 between 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Malvern Hills 2015 - by Jan Sedlacek
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Malvern Hills 2015 - by Jan Sedlacek