From April 2026, Grantham households will start receiving separate weekly food waste collections as part of a significant county-wide change led by Lincolnshire County Council.
This is part of the Government’s new Simpler Recycling reforms, which mean all councils must collect food waste separately so it can be turned into green energy and fertiliser instead of going to waste.
When it’s happening
For South Kesteven, the rollout begins on Monday, 13 April 2026.
Every home in Grantham and the wider district will receive:
- A small grey kitchen caddy (5-litre) for daily use indoors, and
- A larger black outdoor caddy (23-litre, with orange lid and locking handle) for weekly kerbside collection.
Both caddies are provided free of charge, along with an initial roll of liners to get you started.
What can go in the food caddy?
Just about any food waste, including:
- Cooked or uncooked food
- Meat, fish and bones
- Dairy products
- Fruit, vegetables, bread, rice and pasta
- Tea bags, coffee grounds, and even pet food scraps
Avoid putting in liquids (such as soup, milk, or oil) or any packaging.
If removing packaging isn’t practical for a small amount of waste, crews and processing equipment can separate it later — but doing it at home helps keep the system efficient.
Where it all goes
All collected food waste will be processed here in Lincolnshire through anaerobic digestion (AD). This natural process breaks down food waste to produce biogas for renewable electricity and nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farms.
That means your leftovers will literally help power homes and grow crops across the country.
At present, around a quarter of what’s in our general waste bins is food, so separating it makes a significant environmental difference.
Common questions
“Won’t it smell?”
No worse than your kitchen bin does now — caddies have locking lids and will be emptied every week. Empty your kitchen caddy often and keep the lids shut.
“Do I have to buy special liners?”
No. You can reuse any plastic or compostable bag, bread bag, or even wrap waste in newspaper. The AD facility removes all liners before processing.
“I already compost at home — should I still use the caddy?”
Yes, but keep composting too. Use the caddy for cooked foods, meat and dairy — things that don’t go in your garden compost.
“Will council tax go up because of this?”
No. The scheme is fully funded for rollout and does not change your council tax.
Why this matters for Grantham
This change will make recycling more straightforward and greener for everyone. Instead of being burned for energy, our food waste will generate cleaner, locally produced power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also helps keep our black bins lighter and our environment cleaner.
It’s a small change at home that adds up to a big step forward for Lincolnshire’s waste and recycling system — and one that keeps Grantham doing its bit for the planet.
Find out more
You can read full details, including tips and FAQs, at: