Food Waste 2026

Maidstone's “Love Food, Hate Waste” campaign has reached out to hundreds of residents over the years, helping them to save money and reduce their food waste by smart shopping, suitable storage and using up leftovers. Where this is not possible, recycling food waste in the 23L caddy is a simple way for residents to reduce waste, do something positive in the community and reduce their carbon footprint.

Eighteen months ago we relaunched separate food waste collection system, focusing on individual houses, by promoting a food caddy package and associated advertising.

The results are good over the last year our food waste tonnage has risen by over 50% - thousands of residents are now taking part ensuring their food waste is removed every week with an environmental benefit. The material is treated in an AD (Anaerobic Digestion) plant, the process generates power for the national grid and a liquid fertiliser used on local farming land.

In order to further refine the system, we have decided to rerun the consultation, to find out how residents feel now about the food waste collection system.

How to get involved

Survey - click here to start the survey

• Survey closes: 2 August 2026
• Survey takes 3-5 minutes to complete.

Question? - Got a question about food waste? Scroll down to ask the Waste team a question or read the answers to previously asked questions.

What happens next?

The results of the survey will be used to inform improvements to the food waste collection services and the educational work of the Council in relation to waste, recycling and climate change.