Around one third of Dorset's household waste is estimated to be food waste (meat, bones, peelings and plate scrapings), making it the largest recyclable material being thrown away in our bins. This waste then gets sent to landfill, where it breaks down and produces methane, a gas that contributes to climate change. It also produces leachate, a liquid that harms the natural environment.

Collecting food waste would:

• Divert biodegradable waste from landfill
• Turn it into a valuable resource
• Make a big difference to the amount of public money that has to be spent on paying landfill tax

Many people do compost their food at home, but some do not. A food waste collection will allow everyone to recycle excess food waste, and give those who already compost the opportunity to recycle their food waste that cannot be home composted, such as cooked food, dairy products, meat and bones. This is because the waste we will collect will be sent to a large scale treatment process, which sterilises the food waste, killing any harmful bacteria/germs (pathogens) in the food waste.

About the new weekly food waste collection service

All food waste will be collected weekly.  We will give you two containers - a small, 7-litre kitchen caddy and a larger, 23-litre container to be kept outdoors.

The 7-litre food caddy is designed to help you collect your food waste in the home. You don't have to use it if you prefer to put your food waste straight into the larger 23-litre bin outside.

Any food waste collected in the small caddy will then be transferred into the larger container and put out for collection each week. The containers will have lockable lids to prevent spills and animals getting into them.

All cooked and uncooked food can be put in these containers including meat, fish, bones, bread, pasta and plate scrapings as well as tea bags and coffee grounds.

• Your food waste questions answered

  Answers to your questions about collecting food waste as part of the new Dorset collection service.