Bexley Council is stepping up its food waste recycling efforts with new campaigns and improved infrastructure, aiming to boost participation across the borough.
Almost all households in Bexley now have access to a food waste collection service. This includes the provision of communal food bins for blocks of flats and kerbside boxes for properties such as flats above shops. An engagement team has been actively visiting households to provide information and distribute kitchen caddies, with a particular focus on increasing participation in areas where initial engagement was lower.
The council's ambition is to increase overall recycling rates to 65% by 2030, with reusing items playing a significant role in achieving this target. While specific long-term goals for food waste recycling rates and diversion from landfill are not explicitly detailed, the current initiatives are a step towards this broader objective.
To further encourage food waste recycling, a new bin sticker campaign, 'food's not rubbish so let's recycle it!', is being rolled out across the borough. This initiative aims to remind residents that food waste should be placed in the dedicated food box for weekly collection, where it is converted into green energy for local homes.
The engagement team's efforts are ongoing, with a focus on re-engaging with blocks of flats where the take-up has been lower than expected or where residents were not able to be spoken to on the first visit. This targeted approach aims to ensure all residents are aware of and can participate in the food waste recycling service.
More information on council initiatives can be found in the public reports pack for the meeting on 15th July 2026 Public reports pack 15th-Jul-2026 19.30 Council.