Food waste collections will lift recycling rate

WEEKLY FOOD COLLECTIONS BECOME LAW BY APRIL 2026

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

A FOOD waste service for Plymouth costing £4.2 million to implement over the next few years is expected to create an uplift in the city’s under performing recycling rate by up to 8%.

Around 37% of the city’s waste is recycled - across the county, the average is 55%, with many authorities already collecting food waste.

Weekly food waste collections will become law in April 2026 and in Plymouth they will be phased in from March to November, with Devonport, Plympton, Plymstock, Southway, Stoke and Whitleigh the first communities to start.

Plymouth City Council's Cabinet will be asked to approve the business case for the roll out at its meeting next Monday. Setting up costs have been met by a combination of the council’s revenue reserves, borrowing and grant funding from Defra. This has included ten new vehicles, food waste containers, staffing and an infrastructure upgrade of the council's Prince Rock depot.