Have You Helped? Cornwall Hits 10,000 Tonne Food Waste Recycling Milestone

Cornwall’s residents have now recycled 10,000 tonnes of food waste, according to Cornwall Council. The figure marks a major achievement in the county’s food waste collection service, which has been rolling out across Cornwall.

The council has thanked everyone taking part, encouraging continued recycling of veg peelings, banana skins, tea bags, and plate scrapings.

What You Can and Can’t Recycle in Your Food Waste Caddy

To ensure food waste recycling remains effective, the council has reminded residents of what can and can’t be placed in their caddies.

✅ Yes, please:

• All uneaten food and plate scrapings
• Dairy products, cheese, eggs, and egg shells
• Bread, cakes, and pastries
• Raw and cooked meat (including bones)
• Tea and coffee bags (including non-biodegradable ones)
• Raw and cooked vegetables, fruit, and peelings
• Raw and cooked fish (including bones)
• Rice, pasta, and beans
• Soft-shelled shellfish (e.g. crabs, prawns)
• Uneaten wet and dry pet food (but not pet waste)
• Newspaper (as a liner for solid fats, etc.)

❌ No, thank you:

• Plastic carrier bags, food packaging, or non-compostable liners
• Compostable takeaway cups, plates, and bowls (e.g. Vegware)
• Large amounts of liquid (milk, oils, fats)
• Nappies, clinical waste, pet waste (e.g. cat litter, dog poo)
• Garden waste
• Hard-shelled shellfish (e.g. mussel shells, limpets, clams)
• Any other material that isn’t food waste

How to Use Your Food Waste Caddies

Cornwall Council has provided guidance on how to correctly use the silver kitchen caddy and green outdoor collection caddy to keep the process smooth.

• Lining the caddy: Residents can use compostable caddy liners (with a green compostable logo) or newspaper to line their silver kitchen caddy.
• Emptying the kitchen caddy: Food waste should be transferred regularly into the green outdoor collection caddy.
• Securing the caddy: The handle of the green caddy should be pulled forwards and down over the lid to latch it securely closed.
• Collection days: The green food waste caddy must be placed out for collection by 7am every week at the property’s boundary or agreed collection point.

Residents are reminded that while food waste is collected weekly, general recycling and rubbish are collected fortnightly on alternating weeks.

What to Put Out on Collection Day

Depending on the collection week, residents should place their food waste out alongside the appropriate waste stream:

• Recycling week – Food waste is collected alongside:

  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Plastic and metal packaging
  • Glass and textiles

• Rubbish week – Food waste may be collected earlier or later than the usual rubbish collection time.

Cornwall Council has advised people to only report a missed collection if both the food waste and rubbish collection vehicles have already passed through their area that day.

With 10,000 tonnes of food waste already diverted from landfill, Cornwall’s recycling efforts are making a big impact. Residents are encouraged to keep up the good work and ensure their caddies are used correctly each week.