As we start Recycle Week (14 to 20 September) figures for food waste recycling in the borough show an increase of 29% in July 2026 in comparison to the same period last year. Food Box orders have also increased from on average 550 per month to 3,348 in June and 1,737 in July.

This follows the Council introducing several new initiatives to increase residents use of our free weekly food waste recycling service. Initiatives include the introduction of a ‘food’s not rubbish so let’s recycle it’ sticker on all of the borough’s general rubbish bins as a reminder to residents not to put food waste into their green household rubbish bin but instead to recycle their food and make use of the free weekly food waste collections that we have in Bexley.

We have also extended the free weekly food waste recycling service to all flats in Bexley with Simpler Recycling Officers going out to talk to residents and offering them a free food recycling box. Officers have also been out in the Boroughs supermarkets talking to local people about how easy it is to recycle food and giving out free food caddies.

Cllr Rags Sandhu, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture and Leisure said:

We would like to thank our residents for the work they have done to help increase food recycling in the Borough. A 29% increase is a fantastic achievement. Whilst some Councils are only just introducing a free food waste recycling service, Bexley led the way and introduced this service for households in 2004. We’ve continued to lead the way in extending this service to flats. By dedicating staff, resources and time, we have made it possible for 99.7% of flats and flats above shops in the Borough to now have their free weekly food recycling service.”

If you are not currently using the free weekly food waste recycling service, why not start today. Free up space in your general waste rubbish bin and get your food waste collected separately every week for free. Begin with simple things like tea bags and coffee grindings, fruit and vegetables that are out of date and potato peelings. Sign up and order your free kitchen food waste recycling caddy and food waste box.

Hear from a local student, Bella, why recycling food is so important and how easy it is at how to recycle food waste like a pro – Bella’s Guide.

You can earn points for recycling and exchange them for free items by joining the Bexley Green Points programme or by downloading the app.