Residents encouraged to make general waste bin the last resort

Reading residents are being encouraged to use their recycling and food waste bins before their general household waste bin wherever possible.

New figures show an average 16% increase in food waste collected between December 2025 and July 2026.

This means an additional 721 tonnes of food waste was captured and recycled in Reading instead of being sent for disposal.

The increase has also saved more than £70,000 in disposal costs and 508 tonnes of CO2.

What can go in your food waste bin

Food scraps and leftovers that cannot be eaten can be recycled, including:

• fruit and vegetable peelings
• meat and fish
• bones
• tea bags
• coffee grounds

Find out more about what can go in each bin.

Free caddy liners coming this November

To support residents with food waste recycling, the council will deliver free food waste caddy liners to all residents this November.

Councillor comments

Councillor Finn McGoldrick, the council's lead for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:

"It's fantastic to see more Reading residents making use of their food waste bins and helping to reduce the amount of waste we send for disposal.

The increase we've seen over the past six months or so is good news for the environment and the taxpayer.

As we mark Recycling Week, I encourage everyone to think twice before putting anything in their household waste bin, and to consider it a ‘last resort’ bin from now on."