The deadline for every local authority to introduce weekly food waste collections is just under two years away. March 2026 may seem on the distant horizon, but it is just around the corner.

Currently, around half of all local authorities collect food waste, which is positive news. However, for the other half, the task of introducing this service may seem daunting. The procurement of new vehicles, bins and the recruitment of more staff is a timely and costly process, especially at a time when local government funding is tight, and savings need to be made.

Reassuringly, residents’ desire to recycle food waste is there, and the supply chain is ready to support the introduction of this vital service.

The scale of waste

More than 10 million tonnes of food are thrown away each year, 60% of which comes from homes across the country. The carbon associated with this food is equivalent to that generated by one in five cars on UK roads. In 2021, food waste collected from UK households by local authorities amounted to 66.5 kg per person.

Thankfully, residents around the UK are open to separate food waste collections – in a government consultation in 2019, over 80% of respondents were in favour of the separate collection of a core set of materials and in one of our pilot projects with a local authority, up to 85% of resident signed up to the scheme.

But what to do with this waste after it has been collected?

Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most sustainable way of recycling large amounts of unavoidable food waste. Food waste is processed into a liquid soup, and then pumped into the AD plant. As the soup moves through the process it breaks down and releases methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (Co2) which is captured and used as biogas. This biogas is then sent to the gas grid following a gas separation process or converted into electricity. However, it doesn’t all transform into gas. The leftover liquid sludge, also known as digestate, is stored in large lagoons ready to be applied on farmland as a biofertiliser when the crops require it. Every bit of food waste is turned into some good – even the oils and fats can be turned into a bio crude, a sustainable alternative to oil-based fuels.

It is estimated that the UK’s AD industry could generate 7.1 billion cubic metres of biomethane a year, enough to heat 5.5 million homes by 2030. And there are other benefits too. AD is a low-cost process with opportunities to make savings on landfill taxes or energy from waste gate fees. The Anaerobic digestion and Bioresources Association estimate that processing food waste at AD plants could save each local authority up to £1.8m annually.

This complex biological process is an opportunity and an ally to local authorities who are facing the 2026 deadline with some uncertainty.

How to get ready

The deadline to implement food waste collections is a challenging one and whilst we know many local authorities are giving this the attention required, there are some who don’t know where to start.

We would urge any local authority which has not started planning for food waste collections, to start thinking about the changes ahead. If you’re unsure where to start, speak with and visit AD operators. We have just welcomed a group of local authority officers to our Cambridgeshire site who found the tour and discussions insightful.

As an industry, we are ready and waiting to support. Many operators are increasing their capacity to ensure we can meet the demand. We have recently had planning permission granted for a new 6MW AD plant in Lincolnshire that will increase our processing capacity by 200,000 tonnes annually once fully operational.

Anaerobic digestion is the best solution for unavoidable food waste and a positive step towards being compliant, sustainable, and environmentally responsible.

This article first appeared in the Autumn issue of LAPV. To subscribe for free click here.