From Monday, 27 November, we'll be collecting food waste from households throughout Swindon to increase recycling and improve our environmental impact.

If you live in a property with a communal bin store, these changes don't affect you at this time.

Households will have one more collection day in the current system before the new service rolls out - the countdown is on!

Ahead of the changes, make sure you have all the information you need by using the checklist below: 

✅ I've got my new recycling containers (weighted bag and caddies)

✅ I know my new collection day

✅ I know how to separate my recycling correctly

✅ I'm ready to wash & squash my recycling

If you're unsure, find the answers below.

We've now finished delivering new recycling containers (food waste caddies and weighted bag), which you'll need when the new service is rolled out.

They're not to be used just yet, continue to keep hold of them until your new collection day (collections after Monday, 27 November). 

If you live in a property with a communal bin store, you're not affected by the changes at this time, so you don't need any new containers. For households on the food waste trial, please use the caddy you already have.

If you haven't received your new containers, please report a missed delivery.

All affected households should've received a letter with information on their new collection day. 

If you're unsure of your new day, use the look-up tool on our website to search your postcode. 

If you have more than two weeks between your wheelie bin (refuse) collections, please place any excess waste in a refuse bag next to your bin on your first new collection date (after week commencing 27 November). Crews will take it on that occasion. This service will only be available to people who have an extended period between collections due to the changeover and will only happen for wheelie bin (refuse) collections scheduled between 27 November and 8 December. 

Ahead of your new collection day, you'll need to start separating your recycling in the new method - using your new containers. Please put:

• General waste in your existing black wheelie bin or blue bags
• Plastic and metal recycling in new weighted bag
• Paper and card recycling in one of your existing recycling boxes
• Glass recycling in one of your existing recycling boxes
• Food waste in large outdoor food waste bin

If you’re unsure if something can be recycled, or which container an item should be placed in, you can search it in our new look up tool – Waste Wizard. Just search the item and abracadabra it tells you where to place it.

To fit as much recycling as possible in your containers, make sure you wash and squash. It’s as simple as...

1. Make sure your bottle or can is totally empty 

2️. Give them a quick rinse 

3️. Squash them, either with your hands or under your foot and put the lid back on, if it has one

4️. Place in your recycling container

See how much extra space there is in your recycling containers when everything is squashed down! 

Remember you can place any additional recycling in any sturdy container, as long as it's separated correctly (for example plastic and metal together). Any plastic recycling placed in a single use, plastic bag, after Monday, 27 November cannot be collected.

You can put food waste loose in caddies, or you can use a caddy liner. You can use either a plastic or biodegradable liner in your caddy.

Here's what to do:

1. Transfer food waste from your plates or preparation area to your indoor caddy

2. When your indoor caddy is full, empty the contents into your outdoor caddy

3. Place your outdoor caddy at the closest point to the public highway by 6.30am on your collection day for collection every week

Yes please:

✅Food leftovers
✅Eggs
✅Teabags
✅Cooking oil
✅Bones from meat, poultry or fish

No thanks:
❌Food packaging
❌Garden waste
❌Animal waste
❌Pet bedding

Search further items on our website by using the Waste Wizard. 

Remember to lock your outdoor food waste caddy by lifting the handle up - so no paws can get in.

Once we've collected your waste, we handle it in the most environmentally friendly way possible. 

Your food waste is taken to a plant in Wiltshire, where it is turned into fertiliser for crops or converted into natural forms of energy. That compares with putting it in your general waste where it ends up being burnt to generate electricity. 

Food waste is made up of about 70 per cent water, requiring considerably more energy to burn it, making this a less efficient method of disposal than recycling.

Watch the video below to see how it's recycled. 

There are no changes to garden waste collections. Find out more about this service.

Check our FAQs page for further information about the upcoming changes.