What Are The Best Food Waste Bags?

What Are The Best Food Waste Bags?

What Are The Best Food Waste Bags?

Food waste can quickly become messy and smelly, but managing it doesn’t have to be a hassle.

Choosing the right food waste bags makes it simple to keep your home or business clean while reducing environmental impact. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the UK’s food waste disposal rules, explain the types of bags that work best, and share tips on what to put in your food waste bags for optimal results.

Why is Food waste disposal important?

Properly disposing of food waste is important for several reasons. It helps protect the environment, keeps your space clean, saves money and supports recycling efforts. Here are the main benefits: 

  • Protects the environment: Reduces landfill waste and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Improves Hygiene: Prevents unpleasant smells and stops pests like flies and rodents.
  • Saves money: Proper food waste disposal can mean fewer bin collections and better use of bin space, saving you money. 
  • Supports recycling goals: Helps meet UK government targets by turning food waste into compost or energy. 

Using the right food waste bags makes the disposal process easier and cleaner, helping you manage your waste more effectively while doing your part for the environment.

The UK Environment Act 2021

The UK Environment Act 2021 is driving changes in food and waste management, particularly through the Simpler Recycling scheme. This scheme mandates separate food waste collections for most businesses in England, with the goal of reducing waste sent to landfills and promoting recycling through methods like anaerobic digestion.

Key Provisions of the Environment Act 2021 related to food and waste management:

Mandatory Food Waste Segregation:
Businesses in England, with some exceptions for micro-firms, are required to separate their food waste from general waste and arrange for its separate collection by licensed waste carriers.

Separate Collections:
This means businesses must have designated bins for food waste and ensure it's collected separately from other waste streams.

Focus on Anaerobic Digestion:
The preferred method for managing collected food waste is anaerobic digestion, which converts it into biofuel and bio-fertilizer.


Why these changes?

Reduce Landfill Waste:
Sending food waste to landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Separating these wastes allows for more sustainable disposal methods like anaerobic digestion.

Compostable Bin liners: what are they and why do they matter?

Compostable bin liners are bags made from plant-based materials like cornstarch, designed to break down naturally in a composting environment. They matter because they offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bin liners, reducing plastic waste and minimizing environmental impact when disposed of properly.

Here's why they are important:

  1. Reduced Plastic Waste: Compostable liners help reduce reliance on traditional plastic bags, which take hundreds of years to decompose and contribute to landfill waste and pollution.
  2. Environmental Friendliness: Even if not composted, compostable bags are a better option than plastic as they degrade faster and don't release harmful microplastics.

Key considerations:

Certification:
Look for certifications like the seedling logo or EN13432 to ensure the bags meet composting standards.

Do.....

Avoid Plastic Bags:
Do not use plastic bags for food waste, as they are not compostable.

Keep it Cool:
If possible, store the outdoor food waste bin in a cool, shaded area to minimize odors.

Regular Emptying:
Empty the kitchen caddy frequently to prevent food from rotting and attracting pests.

Compostable Liners:
Look for compostable liners with the seedling logo or other certifications to ensure they are suitable for food waste composting.

Keep it Clean:
Regularly clean your food waste caddies with hot, soapy water, white vinegar, or disinfectant.

 


What you can and can't dispose of in your food waste bin

 

   

Wondering what you can put in your food waste bin? Here’s a quick guide to help you sort through the dos and don’ts of food waste disposal. 
 
Always check your local council’s guidelines as rules may vary slightly depending on where you live. However, a general guide is as follows: 

 

You CAN dispose of You CAN’T dispose of
Fruits and vegetable peelings Plastic or non-compostable packaging
Eggshells Liquids such as oil, milk or soup
Plate leftovers Nappies or sanitary items
Meat and fish scraps Animal waste
Coffee grounds and tea bags Any non-food materials

 


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