The aim of the new service is to reduce the significant volume of food that currently ends up in landfill or incineration, where it produces harmful greenhouse gases like methane
Newham Council has officially approved the introduction of a weekly food waste collection service for all households across the borough, with a full rollout expected by April 2026. The initiative, endorsed by the Cabinet, is a major step forward in the Council’s commitment to tackle climate change, cut emissions, and enhance local recycling efforts.
This service, part of a national programme led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), will see food waste collected separately from regular waste on a weekly basis. The aim is to reduce the significant volume of food that currently ends up in landfill or incineration, where it produces harmful greenhouse gases like methane. Newham is among several boroughs preparing for this transition as part of the Government’s “Simpler Recycling” reforms under the Environment Act.
To implement the service, Newham Council has secured £2.6 million in initial grant funding from DEFRA, with further funding expected in spring 2025. The grant will cover the cost of food caddies, external bins, and new collection vehicles necessary to deliver the borough-wide programme. Collections will begin in autumn 2025 and be expanded in phases until all of Newham’s 137,000 households are included.
“This is a major step forward in helping Newham reduce its carbon footprint and tackle climate change. By collecting food waste separately, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions, boost recycling, and reduce disposal costs, while creating useful by-products like fertiliser and clean energy.”
-Sarah Ruiz, Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education, Councillor Sarah Ruiz, welcomed the decision, calling it a “major step forward” in the borough’s climate response.
Food waste accounts for a substantial portion of household refuse in Newham. Estimates suggest that a four-person household could produce up to 247 kilograms of food waste each year. Diverting this material from general waste to composting or anaerobic digestion not only reduces landfill emissions but contributes to the Council’s ambitious Waste and Recycling Strategy, which targets a 35% recycling, reuse, or composting rate by 2030.
Public support for food waste collection has already been demonstrated. In a 2023 borough-wide consultation held as part of Newham’s Waste and Street Cleansing Strategy, around 75% of residents expressed support for a dedicated food waste service. The rollout will serve both houses and flats with weekly collections and is intended to be as accessible as possible. Flats above shops and in high-density developments – which typically present logistical challenges for recycling services – will be included through tailored solutions.
Newham’s introduction of a dedicated food waste collection aligns the borough with others in East London such as Havering, Redbridge, and Barking and Dagenham, who are all advancing plans to comply with the Government’s mandate for consistent food waste recycling across England.
By acting now, Newham is taking a proactive role in shaping a more sustainable waste future and laying the groundwork for long-term environmental gains across the borough. Further updates will be shared in the coming months as the Council prepares for the service rollout.
