Pendle businesses urged to dispose of their food waste separately from general waste

 

Fruit and vegetable peelings, leftover food, meat and fish bones, dairy products, bread, cakes, rice and pasta must be put in a dedicated bin for collection.

The change has applied to all Pendle organisations employing more than 10 full-time staff since March 2025.

Establishments such as residential homes, schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, places of worship and premises used for public meetings are all included.

Smaller businesses will need to arrange separate collections from March 2027.

Bins are provided and collected by an approved contractor. Pendle Borough Council can arrange for the service.

The paid-for service, which starts from £9.43 for each bin collected, enables businesses to choose the frequency of collections and the number of bins they require.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “This is part of a mandatory national scheme to reform recycling across England.

“It is a step forward for recycling in Pendle and another step towards diverting recyclable materials away from landfill.

“This can only have a positive impact and hopefully help to make Pendle a cleaner place in which to live and work.”

Councillor Zafar Ali, the Council’s Operational Portfolio Holder, added: "Separated food waste will be converted into renewable energy and fertiliser, not landfilled or incinerated, which can only make it better for the environment.

“This food waste collection builds upon the recycling services we already provide to Pendle businesses.”

Pendle businesses wanting to get involved in the scheme can contact Pendle Borough Council’s Operational Services department by emailing waste.services@pendle.gov.uk or filling out a form on the Council’s website trade waste query form