What happens to your food waste?

Once your food waste is collected it is transformed into energy to power our communities and into fertiliser for local farms and open spaces. Find out how that works.

Why It matters locally - food waste

This isn't just about meeting government mandates; it's about saving the taxpayer money on disposal costs and generating renewable energy to power our own communities.

By May 2026, we aim to reduce this waste by at least 25%. It starts with one small caddy in your kitchen

The benefits in Staffordshire:

Cost

Reducing waste reduces disposal costs for councils

In Staffordshire, reducing food waste could unlock up to £1 million in savings, alongside significant environmental benefits

Reducing food waste generally also saves residents money too. Throwing food away costs the average Staffordshire household:

  • £260 per person per year 
  • £620 per average household

Recycling Rates

Separating food waste improves recycling performance and reduces pressure on residual waste systems

Climate

Food waste contributes 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Removing food waste from residual bins reduces emissions and supports Staffordshire’s climate ambitions.

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If every household in Staffordshire used their new caddy, we would hit our waste reduction targets overnight.