Renfrewshire Council

Food waste

Who can recycle their food waste, how to do it, what can and cannot go in your food waste caddy or brown bin, how to order more caddy liner bags or a new food waste caddy.

Recycle your food waste instead of putting it in your general waste bin. This allows us to take it to a special processing plant, where it can become a valuable resource, such as energy or fertiliser.

Who can recycle food waste

You can recycle your food waste if your property is on a wheeled bin collection route, if you live in a flat with communal waste storage, or if you present an individual food waste caddy.

If your property is not on one of our food waste collection routes, then we cannot collect your food waste. Instead, consider composting your food waste at home (Recycle Now's website). Check your bin collection calendar to determine if your property is eligible.


How to recycle your food waste

We provide a free food waste caddy and liner bags so you can recycle your food waste.

To recycle your food waste, put one of the liner bags in your indoor food waste caddy. Then, put your food waste into the caddy.

Once the caddy is almost full, tie the liner bag, remove it, and replace it with a new liner bag.

Put the full bag of food waste into your brown bin (or your outdoor food waste caddy, if you do not have a brown bin).

You can also put your food waste directly into the caddy and bin without using the liner bags, if you want.

We'll collect your food waste recycling at the same pickup point as your other bins. Check your bin collection calendar or check online to find your next collection date.

Check your next bin collection date online.


What goes in your food waste caddy

These items can go in your food waste caddy:

  • cooked and uncooked food
  • fruit and vegetable peelings
  • tea bags and coffee grounds
  • eggshells
  • out-of-date food (packaging removed)
  • solid dairy products
  • meat, fish, and small bones
  • pet food.

Do not put these items in your food waste caddy:

  • plastic bags
  • packaging
  • liquids
  • fats and oils (wait for these to solidify, and then they can go in your general waste bin)
  • plastics, cans, and glass
  • paper, card, and cardboard
  • garden waste.

How to order more caddy liner bags or a new food waste caddy

If you need more caddy liner bags, tie one liner bag to the handle of your brown bin or outdoor food waste caddy. Our collection crew will then leave you a new roll of liner bags, unless they have run out that day.

You can also collect a roll of liner bags or request a new food waste caddy by: