Forum Topic

Food Waste Cadddy

I want to start recycling food waste. I've seen small containers, caddys, outside people's houses. When I asked the council for one they sent me an enormous thing that would take up half of my doorstep. I only need something about a tenth the size. I called up and they said they don't give out the small ones any more. How daft! Does anyone know how I can get a small food recycling caddy?

Alan Anderson ● 4454d7 Comments

Well there's a great offer!Have you checked out this page on the LBE website:http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200489/recycling_rubbish_and_waste/289/composting/3There are several interesting things here including the special price composters (sadly the wormery isn't reduced price).BTW the food caddies weren't issued initially and I have never used one.  I replaced the bin under the sink with the food waste bin itself.  When I decided to cut down on the use of "free" carrier bags and use reuseable shopping bags I gained a cupboardful more space.

Philippa Bond ● 4451d

I have an unused one,i never asked for it,your welcome to have it.James.

James Beach ● 4452d

Sorry - the previous reply was about wormeries.There are lots of makes and you can make them yourself and you might also find one on freecycle etc. Mine have come from Wiggly wigglers and there is lots of info on the web and also look for youtube videos of how to set up etc.  It is so much easier to find info now.I notice that some LAs are now providing caddies and food waste bins that they say can be washed in the dishwasher (there is also a max temp recommendation).This is new. Can ours be?

Philippa Bond ● 4453d

I believe that people do use them for cooked food.  We very rarely have any.  I do remember putting some forgotten pasta or rice in on occasion but I've got better at using it up. I guess we've got better at portioning and using-it-up meals. The food waste bin really helped us see what we were wasting - it was mostly bread and we have changed the way we buy it and store it.Having said that, today I've wrapped up in newspaper fish-and-chips-style a parent's meals-on-wheels meal that I brought back the other day and ultimately couldn't face eating to put that in the food waste bin.I had a couple of wormeries - one after the other - before the food waste system was introduced.  After 20 years I was finding it difficult to find anywhere to put the compost. When I have roast a chicken and boiled up the carcase for stock and then just have bones and skin to wrap up it is good to have the food waste bin.  The same with fish bones and prawn shells.  Wrapping them up well in newspaper keeps the bin clean and smell down.  I shall at some point return to a wormery for all the peelings, tea bags and banana skins.  I gave the last one to a school as I wanted to update and try a smaller rectangular layered one.  I would definitely recommend a layered type - so much easier than the wheelie-bin style I originally started with so many years ago.You have to be careful how much waste you put into a wormery at a time especially initially and maybe you should look at what you are wasting/throwing out first.  You may be able to reduce - the food waste bin and websites like www.lovefoodhatewaste.com are good for this.Can you share your food waste bin with a neighbour?  I notice that some Councils are providing food waste bins to share now.Another interesting new development is that the Co-op have been trialling compostable (seedling logo/BS EN 13432) carrier bags in certain stores. I haven't seen any yet.  I understand they cost 6p each.I haven't tried a green johanna - or a bokashi bin.  There were some people using these in Acton some years ago.

Philippa Bond ● 4454d

Thanks for that Philippa. Are wormeries good for cooked food? I'd rather do that.

Alan Anderson ● 4454d

The official method is as Inge stated.  Large lockable Council food waste bin outside and small one inside to transport but you can use any container inside - it just needs to be lidded and strong enough to keep animals and insects out.You have to work out what will work for you.  Separating at source is easiest.  You can put your food waste straight into the big bin or into a smaller caddy. You may change the way you do it as you go along to find out what suits you best. I wonder whether the smaller caddies you are seeing outdoors are just that those residents sadly aren't taking advantage of the brilliant food waste system that we have?  It is not lining your container at all which gives you a big cleaning task - as the food waste generally slides out with the newspaper.  You can buy the COMPOSTABLE (look for seedling logo/BS EN 13432) bags but newspaper is free and you'll probably have a neighbour who gets a paper if you don't. A paper takeaway bag is another alternative.As the collection is weekly most people will be able to keep several weeks food waste in the larger bin if necessary should they miss a collection or be away on holiday etc.Try and keep the bins out of the sun and cool if you can.There are other alternatives eg wormeries and composters and green johannas which you can invest in but the Council collection is free at point of service to residents.This website is useful:  http://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/reduce-waste/food/Good luck!

Philippa Bond ● 4454d

That big thing is the standard outdoor one with locking lid to keep foxes out.  To get a small one for your kitchen, if you want to, Google "Food Recycling Caddy".  You can get special compostable liners to fit the small ones then just tie the top before putting it into your large one the evening before collection.  I wouldn't recommend the paper bags or newspaper as it gets soggy and sticks to the bottom of the large caddy when they empty it, leaving you an unpleasant cleaning task.

Inge Jones ● 4454d