As part of the pilot, every participating household will receive a 23-litre lockable outdoor food waste caddy, which will be collected weekly, and a 7-litre internal kitchen caddy to make separating food waste at home easy and convenient. Residents will simply transfer their kitchen food waste from their 7-litre caddy into the secure outdoor caddy ahead of their weekly collection.  

The pilot places the district at the forefront of preparing for the Government’s upcoming Simpler Recycling Food Waste reforms.

The six‑month pilot, involving around 3,000 homes across Southwell, Lowdham, and Lincoln Road and Hawtonville in Newark, will test how weekly food waste collections operate in a real‑world setting before they become a statutory requirement from October 2027.

The trial will help the Council gather valuable data on participation rates, tonnages, operational efficiency, vehicle performance and resident feedback. This insight will ensure the district is fully prepared for the mandatory rollout of weekly food waste collections in 2027, helping deliver a service that is both high‑quality and value for money for residents.

Councillor Simon Forde, Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “By trialling food waste collections early, we’re ensuring Newark and Sherwood is ahead of the curve.This pilot puts us in a strong position, learning what works now so we can deliver a smooth, reliable and cost‑effective service when the system changes for everyone.

“This is also a chance to work closely with our residents and understand what will make the future service as easy and convenient as possible. The feedback we get, the behaviours we observe and the data we collect will all help shape a model that truly supports local people, reduces waste and strengthens our wider environmental ambitions. It’s an important step towards a cleaner, greener system that benefits the whole district.”

As part of understanding which long‑term approach best meets residents’ needs and supports sustainable budgets, the pilot will model different collection methodologies. This will help determine the most effective and user‑friendly system ahead of the statutory introduction of weekly food waste collections in 2027.

As part of the national Simpler Recycling reforms, from 1 April 2026, residents across Newark and Sherwood will also see improvements to what can be placed in their silver recycling bin.

New items including aluminium foil, foil trays, cartons, plastic pots, tubs and trays, plastic tubes (such as toothpaste), aluminium bottles, aluminium tubes and metal jar lids will all be accepted, helping make recycling easier and more consistent. All existing recyclable items will continue to be collected as normal, and residents are encouraged to rinse and dry items and place lids back on before recycling.

More information is available on the District Council website: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/simpler-recycling