Clackmannanshire Council Online

Food Waste Collection

Food Waste Collection

To help you separate your food waste, we provide a kitchen caddy and a kerbside caddy.

• Line your kitchen caddy with a liner.
  • To order a new supply of liners please tie a liner around the kerbside caddy handle when you present it for collection (on the normal food waste collection day). Please remember to remove the liner from the handle once you have received the new roll of liners.  
• Empty the food from your kitchen caddy regularly into your kerbside caddy.

Yes please to:

• bread, cakes and pastries
• dairy products and egg shells
• tea and coffee grounds
• rice, pasta and beans
• fish and meat - raw and cooked including bones
• pet food
• fruit and vegetable peelings
• scrapings from plates
• semi-liquid products such as yoghurt

No thanks to:

• pet waste
• liquids

If you do not have the caddies or require bags then please contact us on 01259 450000, or by email to forthbank@clacks.gov.uk.

Alternatively you can write to us at the address given at the bottom of the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am short of time. What are the benefits to recycling food waste?

There are a number of reasons for doing this. They include:

• Your green bin will be less full if you recycle your food waste.
• More than 30% of the waste in an average green bin is food waste. This mixture includes plate scrapings, food that has passed its use by date and items that we do not eat such as tea bags, potato peelings, and banana skins. When all this decomposes in a landfill site, it produces methane gas, which contributes to climate change.
• The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 will not allow us to landfill biodegradable waste such as food.
• Currently we pay tax every time we send waste to landfill. Therefore, the less we send to landfill, the less we pay in tax.
• Collected food waste is treated in an environmentally friendly way forming a fertiliser for use on agricultural land. During the process, the energy released is converted to electricity.
• It may even show what food is being wasted allowing you to take steps to reduce this and make real savings in the family food budget. More information to help you reduce your food waste can be found at the Love Food Hate Waste web site.

Will the food caddy smell?

No it shouldn't:

• Tie or wrap up the food waste in the liner tightly before putting it in your kerbside caddy.
• Empty your kitchen caddy regularly into the kerbside caddy.
• Every week remember to put it out for collection.
• Always lock your caddy by bringing the handle upright.

What I have room the kitchen food caddy and kerbside food caddy?

The kitchen caddy is small enough to fit on your kitchen worktop.

The kerbside caddy has around 23 litres of capacity - similar to a typical mop-bucket.

I have run out of liners for my caddy. Where can I get more?

When your supply of liners is running low please request a new batch by tying a liner round your food caddy bin on collection day.

Alternatively you can request liners by telephoning customer service on 01259 450000.

Please remember that any plastic or paper bag can be used until your new liners are delivered.

Are we encouraging people to reduce food waste?

Yes, by asking people to separate their food waste, hopefully they will identify what can be avoided and take action to reduce this. Information on reducing food waste is available at the love food, hate waste web site.

In the future, there will be a landfill ban on this type of waste and therefore we need a separate food collection service.

I live in a flat; will I get a food waste collection?

Where it is practical we will introduce a food collection for your property.

Will the food waste kerbside caddy attract vermin?

No, but to make sure:

• Use the liners for all food waste.
• Make sure you keep your caddy locked when not in use by pulling the handle of the caddy forward.
• Put your caddy out for collection every week.
• Keep your caddy clean.

My kerbside food waste caddy was not emptied and a label placed on it. What should I do?

If your caddy contained material that should not be there such as plastic bottles or glass, then take the materials out and call the contact centre on 01259 450000. We will come and empty it as soon as we can.

I compost all my food waste, I do not need the food waste caddies therefore can I hand them back?

Please keep your caddies. Domestic compost bins should only be used to compost fruit and vegetable food waste, egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds.

You should not place meat, fish, and cooked food in domestic compost bins that could attract vermin. Use the food collection service for these items.

Some households have a waste digester such as a green cone. If you have one then please still keep your kitchen and kerbside caddies as an option should circumstances change.

What will happen to my food waste after collection?

The food waste we collect will be taken to a processing plant. This plant will treat the food waste in an environmentally friendly way forming a fertiliser for use on agricultural land. During the process, the energy released is converted to electricity.

Can I put my house number on my kerbside caddy?

Yes, please do this, as it will help our collection crew return the right bin to the right property.

How do I get a replacement for my broken or lost caddy?

Please call 01259 450000 to request a replacement.

I do not want the food waste containers, what should I do?

You will have to use your food waste caddies.

Future landfill bans may force us into the position where we cannot empty your green bin if it contains food waste.