Residents in the Malvern Hills District will soon be able to recycle food waste from their doorstep every week, as Malvern Hills District Council prepares to launch its new Household Food Waste Collection service.
The first collections are due to begin from the week commencing 5 October, with staff, vehicles, equipment and the depot ready for the gradual rollout across the district.
Residents do not need to do anything yet. The council will contact households directly when the service is coming to their area and will provide everything needed to get started.
Each household will receive a kitchen caddy for use indoors, a roll of liners, an outdoor food waste bin and a leaflet explaining how the service works.
The weekly collection will take place on the same day as residents’ existing waste or recycling collection, making it simple to fit into household routines.
Food waste makes up around 37 per cent of the average bin in the Malvern Hills District, according to waste analysis carried out by Let’s Waste Less in 2021.
Using the service will be straightforward. Residents can put food waste, including plate scrapings, peelings and tea bags, into their kitchen caddy before emptying it into the outdoor food waste bin ready for collection.
Once collected, food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it can be transformed into biogas to help generate energy and fertiliser that can be used in farming.
Cllr Jeremy Owenson, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “This is an exciting step forward for recycling in the Malvern Hills District and an easy way for residents to make a difference every week. Our Waste and Recycling Team has worked hard to get everything ready, and we are proud to be the first council in the county to deliver this service. By separating food waste, residents can help reduce what goes into general waste while supporting the creation of useful energy and fertiliser.”
Find out more, including frequently asked questions and contact details, at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/foodwaste.
Pictured: Cllr Jeremy Owenson, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Malvern Hills District Council, with Steve Asquith and Craig Lancett from the Waste and Recycling Team at Malvern Depot.
Date published: 14 September 2026