New waste collection legislation is creating a significant shift for councils across England, with local authorities now legally required to provide weekly food waste collections for eligible residents.
This incentive has come about as part of a wider effort to increase recycling rates, reduce landfill emissions and manage household waste more efficiently, with the government aiming to achieve a municipal recycling rate of 65% by 2035.
While some authorities already had food waste collection services in place, others previously operated under different schedules or had no separate provision at all. As a result, despite the legislation being introduced in March 2026, many councils are still working towards full implementation.
The rollout brings a range of operational considerations, from staffing and specialist vehicles to supply chains, budgets and resident readiness. Alongside these practical challenges, councils must also ensure residents understand what is changing, when collections will begin and how the new service will affect them.
Residents need to be introduced to how the new service works, when collections will begin and what they need to do in response. Explaining the purpose behind the changes is equally as important, as a lack of understanding often reduces participation rates.
When food waste is separated and processed through anaerobic digestion, it can be turned into electricity or fertiliser, helping to keep waste out of landfill and cutting emissions. For residents, something as simple as a kitchen caddy can act as a daily reminder of both the waste they produce and the positive impact recycling can have.
With the average council supporting over 350,000 residents, early, clear and concise communication is essential to ensure the rollout runs as smoothly as possible. Effective digital and physical resident engagement can help minimise confusion, reduce contamination of waste and prevent missed collections. Without it, even the best-planned services can face significant challenges, leading to:
Rolling out a new service at scale isn’t straightforward. To meet the requirements of this legislation and optimise outcomes, councils require a partner that enables them to communicate efficiently and clearly with residents, without placing additional strain on current resources.
At CFH, we’ve helped over 100 councils deliver communications on a large-scale, including service changes and waste management scheduling. Different households have different needs, from houses and flats to urban and rural areas, which is why accessibility considerations also need to be made. Our approach ensures that all residents receive the information they need, through the right channels - whether that’s print, postal or digital - ensuring residents receive the right information, at the right time.
We can support your department in sending:
Acting as an extension of your team, we help you achieve your goals while taking the pressure off the creation and delivery of your communications.
By combining experience, scale and precision, CFH can help deliver communications that not only inform, but engage, resulting in stronger resident understanding and more successful outcomes. Click through for more information on our hybrid mail solutions.
Surrey County Council Sought to Optimize Print/Post Services Across Departments. We Helped Transform Their Services With Our Industry Expertise.
