Bedford Borough Council has reported that over 2,790 tonnes of food waste have been diverted from black bins in the first six months since the launch of its weekly food waste collection service on 30 March 2026. This amount of waste is equivalent to around 550 African elephants. The collected food waste is sent to Biogen’s anaerobic digestion facility, where it is converted into renewable energy for the National Grid and nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farms. This process offers a cost-effective alternative to disposing of food waste with non-recyclable waste, contributing to a reduction of over 3,000 tonnes of waste in black bins compared to the previous year.
The council encourages residents who have not yet participated or who paused the service to resume using their food waste caddies, highlighting the environmental and financial benefits. The initiative supports waste reduction efforts and promotes sustainable practices by turning food waste into valuable resources.
Read the full story: Bedford Council news.
Source: Bedford Council news. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.