Hillingdon Council is urging local residents to enrol in the borough’s food‑waste collection service as part of National Recycle Week, which runs until 20 September.
The campaign aims to boost the overall recycling rate, protect the environment and reduce contamination of dry mixed recycling streams.
By separating leftovers, bones, peelings and expired food, households can divert organic material from the dry recycling bag, preventing whole loads from being rejected. The collected food waste is processed into nutrient‑rich compost and renewable energy for the national grid, delivering tangible environmental benefits.
Signing up for the service is straightforward. New participants receive a kitchen caddy, an outdoor food‑waste bin and liners, enabling them to start recycling immediately. Residents who already own a caddy are encouraged to use it now, with Recycle Week providing a timely reminder to begin.
The council’s recycling provision extends beyond food waste. It includes regular collections for dry mixed recycling, garden waste and textiles, as well as dedicated bins for small electricals, batteries, coffee pods and vapes.
For items that do not fit standard collections, the council’s waste and recycling centres accept most household recyclables, and a Pop‑Up Waste Drop service facilitates the disposal of unwanted and bulky items locally.
Further information on all recycling services, including how to register for food‑waste collections, is available at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/recycling.
Cllr Wayne Bridges, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “We want you to be a winner, by recycling your dinner. Taking a few moments to scrape the remains off your plate into your food waste caddy is a great way to recycle more and help reduce your environmental impact.
“It’s easy and the benefits are multiple too; keeping recyclable and compostable material out of general waste, enabling the borough to produce high quality recycling, while also ensuring that valuable materials are given a new lease of life.
“Our comprehensive recycling offer makes it easy for residents to play their part and give new life to many household items, reducing the burden on the environment.
“If you’re not yet signed up for food waste collections, or you are but could recycle more, Recycle Week is the ideal opportunity to make a commitment to reducing your waste, so be good and recycle your food.”
