The two new grey caddies being delivered to homes

Two new grey bins have started to be delivered across the county ahead of weekly food waste collections starting.

Bedford Borough Council said leftovers, out-of-date food, tea bags, pet food and scraps will be collected from Monday, 30 March, and should no longer be put in black bags.

The waste will then be turned into renewable energy and fertiliser.

Households will get a small kitchen caddy for daily use and a larger outdoor one for the food waste to be emptied into. People in flats will be able to use a communal food bin.

The council said the caddies have been specially designed with a locking mechanism; when the handle is down, the lid is held securely to stop rats, foxes and other pests from getting into them.

They also should keep smells in and flies out, and can be lined with ordinary plastic bags, paper or newspaper or reused bread and cereal bags.

"At the processing plant, bags and newspaper liners are removed by the contractor before the food waste is treated through an automated process," the council said.

However, a liner is not essential as they can be rinsed out, it added.

Independent councillor Nicola Gribble, portfolio holder for environment, said: "This new service is an important step towards reducing our carbon footprint, cutting waste, and recycling more of the materials we all use every day.

"Every household can play a part - by recycling food waste, however small an amount, residents are helping generate green energy and support local agriculture, all while keeping rubbish bins fresher and lighter."

Residents who have not received one of the bins or need a replacement can contact the council through its website.

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