15/01/2026
WIN Prizes with the New Food Waste Caddies
Food waste recycling service coming soon – your caddies arriving from 19 January
Households across North Kesteven will be receiving the caddies for their new kerbside food waste recycling service from 19 January 2026, with some of them containing lucky orange tickets to win great prizes.
So, as soon as yours arrives – on a staggered delivery schedule over a number of weeks – be sure to look inside, digest all of the information contained and look for one of the 35 lucky tickets that are orange in both shape and colour.
Regular updates will be shared on North Kesteven District Council’s website at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/foodwaste and on the Council’s social media channels.
Each household will receive a small indoor caddy, a larger outdoor caddy, an initial roll of liners and a guide to using the service. The caddies will be delivered to doorsteps or onto individual properties.
Collections will start week commencing 30 March 2026 and will be weekly on the same day as your usual black, green-lidded or purple-lidded bins. Residents should put their larger, orange-lidded outdoor caddy out for collection alongside their usual bin by 6.30am.
Executive Member for Environment and Waste Councillor Mark Smith said, “We’re excited to be bringing you this service, especially as many people have asked us to recycle food waste in the past. Over the years, through fantastic efforts by everyone in the community, we’ve gradually slimmed down black bin waste. More and more now goes for recycling, and this is the latest step forward.
“Although starting this service has been mandated by government, we are nonetheless pleased to provide an extra opportunity to reduce waste and boost recycling.
“Under the new service, food waste will go to a Lincolnshire anaerobic digestion facility, where it will be converted into biogas – a renewable energy source to power homes – and fertiliser for local farmland. The more we can get out of our waste, the better it is for the community and the environment.
“Many people in the trial we carried out found that using the caddies also drew their attention to how much food they were wasting, prompting them to make changes and helping them save money.
“According to statistics, as much as a third of food purchased routinely ends up in the bin, uneaten. This not only wastes energy in production and transportation, it wastes money in everyone’s pockets. It then has to be disposed of, which in Lincolnshire is currently through the Energy from Waste plant. The new process will be cleaner and greener.”
In the Wonka-style ‘lucky orange ticket’ promotion running alongside the deliveries, 35 orange-shaped tickets will be placed in the caddies at random before they leave the Council’s depot. Residents who find a ticket are guaranteed to win a prize in a draw at the end of the caddy roll-out.
Prizes include:
• A two-night stay in Hill Holt Wood's new treehouse
• Vouchers for local businesses such as Sleaford Sausage Shop
• Passes to local attractions including Lincoln Water Park and Doddington Hall
• A hamper of local products from Cogglesford Mill
• Month-long memberships to Better gyms and leisure centres
• Tickets to a play or film at Sleaford Playhouse
Most of the prizes have been donated by local businesses, and the Council wishes to thank them for helping to create a special offer for the community.
There will even be the opportunity for six families to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the Council’s Waste and Street Scene depot, including the chance to sit in a waste collection lorry – sure to be a hit with youngsters who love trucks.
Full instructions on how to claim will be on each ticket and more information about the promotion can be found at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/foodwaste
The new food waste recycling service is required by government under the Environment Act 2021. All English councils must provide separate weekly food waste collections by 31 March 2026.
Here are some highlights about the service:
• Caddies will be emptied weekly, meaning your food waste hangs around for less time – handy, especially in summer
• The service will take food that you can’t compost at home such as bread, meat, bones and cooked food, plus pet food, mouldy and out-of-date food
• Everyone generates some form of food waste – from tea bags and coffee grounds to eggshells and peelings. Any food can go into the caddy.
• It’s better for the environment and helps save resources
• You don’t need to buy special compostable or biodegradable bags to use as a liner – you’re encouraged to reuse bags
• There’s no change to other bin collections
The Council encourages you to visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/foodwaste where there’s more information, and an extensive set of frequently asked questions (FAQs). There is also a chatbot service accessible from any page of the website.
For any further questions contact [email protected] or call 01529 414155.
Information on your new food waste recycling collection service.
