New weekly food waste collection service to be launched in autumn 2026

Crawley Borough Council will be launching its new weekly food waste collection service for individual households across the borough in the autumn.

The new service is being introduced as part of the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms under the Environment Act 2021, which require councils in England to provide separate weekly food waste collections.

More than 44 per cent* of the average rubbish bin in Crawley is food waste so the new service will make it easier for residents to recycle more at home.

Alongside this, general rubbish collections for individual households will move to a fortnightly schedule using existing bins.

Other collections, including the fortnightly kerbside dry, mixed recycling service will remain unchanged, as will the garden waste collection service, which continues to be available by subscription. Flats and other properties with communal bins will remain on the current collections and are expected to join the new service at a later date.

To help residents get ready for the new service, all individual households in Crawley will receive a leaflet in August explaining how it will work. A few weeks before food waste collections start, each household will receive a starter pack including a lockable 23 litre outdoor food waste bin with an orange lid and a five litre indoor caddie, as well as a free starter roll of compostable liners.

Food waste will be collected every week on residents’ normal bin collection day. Once collected, food waste is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, where it is transformed into renewable energy and fertiliser for local farms. 

For further information about the new waste collection service including guidance on what can and cannot be placed in the food waste bin, visit our food waste page.

*More than 44% by weight of the average rubbish bin in Crawley is food waste.