Mid Devon District Council is encouraging residents to keep food waste out of their black bins, following a successful food waste pilot which has shown that a simple reminder can encourage many more residents to recycle their food waste.

Around 2,600 to 3,000 tonnes of food waste is still being placed in black bins in Mid Devon each year, accounting for around 25% of the waste in black bins. Recycling this food waste instead could help the Council reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal, reducing contamination and costs and reducing its environmental impact.

The pilot ran from June to August 2026 across parts of Tiverton, Cullompton, Crediton, Sampford Peverell and Newton St Cyres when around 1,500 properties were monitored during an initial three-week period, with more than 200 household identified as not putting out their food waste caddy.

Those residents were then given a reminder sticker on their black bin, highlighting the importance of recycling food waste and how to request a food waste caddy. Results show that almost half (49%) of these households subsequently put their food waste out for collection.

Councillor Josh Wright, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery & Continuous Improvement, said:

“There is a huge opportunity to save valuable food waste from going into our black bins. This simple nudge to residents had a great impact on results. We want everyone in Mid Devon to recycle their food waste, whether that’s through home composting or our kerbside collection. Keeping food waste out of the black bin helps reduce costs and our impact on the environment.”

New grey kitchen food waste caddies are available for residents to request through the Council’s website, and will also be available to pick up at Active Tiverton’s Community Open Day this Saturday, 10:00-16:00.

The Council will also be making caddies available from Phoenix House and its leisure centres, with plans to work with town and parish councils and other community locations to make them as accessible as possible. Any organisations that could offer a suitable location for residents to collect caddies from are encouraged to contact the Council at streetscene@middevon.gov.uk.

The Council is looking to roll out the scheme in other parts of the district and looking at further steps for encouraging more residents across Mid Devon to recycle their food waste.

Visit the Council’s website for more information on recycling food waste, including guidance on what can go in your food waste caddy.