Three months to go until food waste collections start in Test Valley!
  Residents should have received, or will receive, a bin hanger or postcard explaining that food waste collections are taking place soon in Test Valley.
So here is what you need to know about the new service:
When is it happening?
Weekly food waste collections will start from the week commencing 13 October 2025. Every household will be given a 5 litre kitchen caddy to help with the collection of food waste and scraps in the home.
Every week, we will collect food waste from the 23 litre kerbside caddies, using our new fleet of specialist collection vehicles.
Small 140 litre grey-lidded wheeled bins will be provided to residents who live in flats or other accommodation with bin stores, and who already share their waste and recycling bins.
Why is this happening?
We are introducing this new collection service as the Environment Act 2021 requires all councils to have food waste collections in place by 1 April 2026. We are introducing the collections five months earlier in a positive step towards transforming recycling in the area.
What happens to my food waste after its been collected?
All of the collected food waste will be processed at an anaerobic digestion facility where it will be broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen. The methane-rich biogas generated during this process can be used as a fuel and the remaining product can be used as a nutrient rich fertiliser.
 What can I put in my food waste caddy?
There are lots of items that can be placed into the food waste caddies. These include: all uneaten food and plate scrapings, raw and cooked meat and fish including bones, tea bags and coffee grounds, fruit and vegetables including peelings (raw or cooked), out of date or mouldy food, dairy products such as cheese, and much more. For a full list visit our website via the link at the bottom of this email.
When will I get my caddies?
We are using a specialist distribution company for most households. They will start delivering the caddy packs from 26 August 2025. We anticipate this will take up to 7 weeks to complete. The caddy pack includes one kitchen caddy and one kerbside caddy, along with information on the new collection service.
For those who share their bins, we will deliver one kitchen caddy to each household, along with information on the new collection service, when we deliver the grey-lidded food waste wheeled bin to the bin store. This will be during September 2025.
Will you provide liners for the caddies?
Yes - you'll be given a starter pack of compostable liners with your caddy pack. It's expected that the starter pack (a roll of 26 liners) should last a household approximately 10 weeks. If you wish to continue to use compostable caddy liners once you have used up your starter pack supply, they can be purchased from local shops or online. Alternatively, you can line your caddy with newspaper or paper towels. Food waste can be put into your caddy loose too, if you prefer.
For all the information you need please visit our website by clicking the button below.
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