By 31 March, all local authorities in England must provide weekly, separate food waste collections for every household, including flats and communal buildings. Residents will receive:
A dedicated food waste bin
- Clear guidance on what can and cannot be included
- Information on collection days.
- This national change aims to significantly reduce food sent to landfill and increase recycling rates.
Why the change?
Each year, the UK alone wastes around 10 million tonnes of food, with around 70% of this still perfectly edible. This has the same environmental impact as 3.5 million cars on the road.
Every day:
- 20 million slices of bread are thrown away
- 5.2 million glasses of milk are poured down the drain
- 4.4 million potatoes never get eaten.
Our Commitment at Southern Housing
We’re also making changes in our own workplaces. Last year, all Southern Housing offices were equipped with food waste bins in communal areas to help colleagues take simple, sustainable steps throughout the day.
Together, these small changes at home, in our communities, and across our organisation, add up to a big impact in tackling food waste.
If you're interested in more waste information or have any questions, please contact the Environmental Sustainability inbox environment@southernhousing.org.uk.