Bexley households will start seeing new stickers on general rubbish bins over the next couple of months, as Bexley Council reminds residents to keep food waste out of ordinary black-bin rubbish.
The message is direct: food is not rubbish. Residents are being asked to use the borough’s free weekly food waste collection instead, where food scraps are collected separately and turned into green power for local homes.
New stickers on general rubbish bins
Council bin crews will place the new stickers on general rubbish bins across the London Borough of Bexley during the rollout. The stickers are intended as a prompt at the point where households are deciding what goes into the rubbish bin.
Bexley Council says food waste should go into the free food box rather than the general rubbish bin. The weekly service is available to households, and the council has also extended free weekly food waste collections to flats above commercial premises.
Residents who do not already have the right equipment can order a free kitchen food waste recycling caddy and an outdoor food waste box from the council.
What can go in the food waste box
Bexley residents can recycle cooked and uncooked food through the service. That includes everyday leftovers as well as items that often end up in general rubbish.
Useful details:
- Cost to residents: free weekly food waste collection
- Equipment: free kitchen caddy and food waste box can be ordered
- Accepted items: cooked food, uncooked food, bones, fish skins, tea bags and coffee grindings
- Collection frequency: weekly
- Affected area: households across the London Borough of Bexley
The council says recycling just six teabags can create enough energy to boil water for another cup of tea.
Why Bexley wants more food recycled
Recent annual recycling figures from DEFRA show Bexley performing well overall, according to the council. But the authority says 30% of waste currently going into general rubbish bins is food waste that could instead be recycled through the free weekly service.
Separating food waste also affects council costs. Processing food waste is cheaper than processing general rubbish, and the disposal route is more energy efficient.
Residents comparing how local authorities are changing waste services can also read about black bin collection changes in West Northamptonshire, where councils are taking a different approach to reducing general waste.
Council message to residents
Cllr Rags Sandhu, London Borough of Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Culture and Leisure, thanked residents for helping improve recycling rates over the past year.
“We would like to thank everyone for the work they have done over the past year to help us increase recycling in the Borough,” Cllr Sandhu said. “The annual figures show that Bexley’s recycling rates have improved at a faster pace than many of our London neighbours. This is a fantastic achievement and is good for the environment.”
Source: London Borough of Bexley
Source check Source trail
This article was adapted from a London Borough of Bexley notice about the food waste sticker rollout and local recycling service.
- Confirmed the rollout concerns general rubbish bin stickers across Bexley.
- Checked the council’s stated food waste service is free and weekly.
- Verified the article includes the council’s DEFRA recycling context and 30% food waste fig...
- Kept the guidance limited to items and services named in the source notice.
- Source
- London Borough of Bexley
- Scope
- London Borough of Bexley
- Updated
- 2026-05-29 13:11
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