All you need to know about Darlington food waste recycling changes

New weekly food waste and recycling schemes have been introduced for thousands of households across the borough. 

Bins, caddies and liners have been delivered ahead of the scheme starting on Tuesday (June 2).  

Residents will have received:

• A kitchen caddy
• An outside food waste bin
• 52 biodegradable caddy liners – enough to last a year

If you live in a flat or other communal setting, you will have a caddy for your home and liners. There will be a larger communal bin to put your full caddy liners into. 

What you need to do:

1. Put food waste, such as peelings, leftovers, out-of-date items (not in packaging), coffee grounds and tea bags, in the lined caddy
2. When the caddy is full, tie the liner bag
3. Put the tied liner in the outside food waste bin
4. Put your food waste bin out for collection once a week, along with your general recycling bin

If you live in a flat or other communal setting, you need to put your full caddy liners into the communal food waste recycling bin provided.

Residents are asked to put food waste, such as peelings, leftovers, out-of-date items and tea bags, in the lined caddy and put it in the outside food waste bin. 

The food waste bin will be collected once a week along with the general recycling bin and green glass box.

General household waste will still be collected fortnightly.

An information pack explaining the new service, which includes details of specific recycling collection days, has also been distributed to households.  

If people haven’t received their bins yet, you should visit darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste or call 01325 405111. 

Community groups interested in learning more about the new scheme can contact the council’s engagement officer at recyclingdarlington@darlington.gov.uk. 

When is my collection?

You will be able to check your new collection day here. Your collection day is also included in the information pack delivered with your food waste bin and caddy. Put your bins out by 7am on the day of collection and bring them back in as soon as you can.

How often will food waste be collected?

Food waste, along with all other recycling, will be collected once a week. General rubbish will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Will the food in my bin smell?

It is less likely to smell if you regularly empty your kitchen caddy into the outside food waste recycling bin and tie up the liner. Your outdoor bin and caddy also have sealable lids, which will stop smells getting out better than most normal kitchen bins.

Will keeping food waste outside attract rats, cats and flies?

If the lid on the outdoor food waste bin is kept closed and sealed, it is unlikely to attract pests. The council is collecting food waste every week, so there won’t be large amounts of food waste outside homes.

My food waste bin or caddy has been lost or stolen, how do I get a replacement?

You can order a replacement bin or caddy online through our equipment requests form, which can be found on the refuse and recycling equipment page.

Replacement 23 litre bins cost £3.40 and replacement 5 litre bins cost £1.20.