Hampshire Plans Countywide Food Waste Collections By 2026

Hampshire County Council has approved plans and a £2 million budget to introduce household food waste collections across the county, aiming to collect between 30,000 and 50,000 tonnes annually. The initiative aligns with the UK government's Simpler Recycling guidance, which mandates weekly kerbside food waste collections by April 2026. Currently, only a few boroughs in Hampshire offer food waste collection, but the program will expand countywide, utilizing anaerobic digestion to convert food waste into renewable gas and organic fertilizer. Agreements with local anaerobic digestion facilities and the use of transfer stations will optimize the processing and transportation of collected waste. Meanwhile, Lincolnshire is also rolling out food waste collections in stages starting in 2026, with a focus on making the service optional and educating residents to avoid punitive enforcement. Both counties emphasize the environmental and economic benefits of reducing food waste and improving recycling rates through these new collections.