3000 homes in areas of Southwell, Lowdham, Lincoln Road and Hawtonville in Newark will soon be taking part in a new food waste collection trial as Newark and Sherwood District Council prepares for the introduction of separate food waste collections across the district in 2027.
Newark and Sherwood District Council is one of only two councils in Nottinghamshire trialling the service ahead of its countywide introduction next year. During the trial, different households will test different collection arrangements, including different approaches to using food waste liners, helping the District Council gather valuable insight into resident preferences and how the service operates in practice. Feedback from participants will be used to help shape the final service and ensure it works as effectively as possible for residents.
Residents whose properties have been selected for the trial will receive a letter confirming their participation, along with a 23-litre lockable outdoor food waste caddy, a 7-litre kitchen caddy and information on how to use the service. Some households will also receive a starter roll of compostable liners as part of the trial, enabling the District Council to test different approaches to understand what works best for residents ahead of the full rollout of the service.
The trial will begin on Monday 26 October, with weekly collections taking place on either Mondays or Tuesdays depending on residents' collection rounds.
Residents taking part in the trial will be written to directly and will be able to recycle a wide range of food waste, including fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products, tea bags, coffee grounds, leftovers and plate scrapings. Food waste will be collected weekly using secure, lockable outdoor caddies designed specifically for the service. Each caddy features a lockable lid to help keep food waste secure until collection day and minimise any concerns about pests.
Following the six-month trial, households taking part will continue to receive a weekly food waste collection while the results are reviewed and plans for the countywide service are finalised. This will help maintain the benefits of the service and avoid disruption for residents who have incorporated the service into their weekly routine.
Households that are not selected for the trial will not receive a letter or food waste caddies, and their existing waste and recycling collections will remain unchanged until the countywide implementation in 2027.
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:
The government has introduced a requirement for all councils across England to provide separate food waste collections from 2027 as part of wider efforts to increase recycling and reduce waste. As we prepare for this important new service, we want to make sure we introduce it in the best possible way for our residents.To help us do that, we are running a trial to test different collection options and gather feedback from participating households. The insight we receive will help us understand what works well, identify any improvements that may be needed and inform how the service is delivered across the district in the future. This trial is a valuable opportunity for residents to help shape the design of food waste collections in Newark and Sherwood. By sharing their experiences and feedback, participants will play a direct role in helping us develop a service that is practical, effective and easy to use. Food waste currently makes up a significant proportion of material placed in household rubbish bins. By collecting it separately, we can ensure it is recycled and turned into useful resources, supporting our environmental ambitions and helping residents make an even greater contribution to reducing waste. We are grateful to everyone taking part in the trial. Their feedback will help ensure we are ready to deliver a high-quality food waste collection service for communities across Newark and Sherwood when it is introduced in 2027.
For more information about food waste collections and the Council's preparations for the 2027 rollout, visit the Council website: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/food-waste