Hartlepool residents have been praised for helping divert almost 900 tonnes of food waste away from general rubbish collections, whilst others are being urged to get involved.
Hartlepool Borough Council introduced weekly food waste collections on a trial basis in November 2025 before rolling the service out across the borough. Since then, household collections have averaged around 30 tonnes every week.
The collected food waste is processed by Duranta Energy Ltd and transformed into biogas and natural fertiliser, helping reduce waste and create valuable resources.
Every household has been provided with two food waste caddies - a smaller kitchen caddy for collecting food scraps indoors and a larger external caddy into which the contents should be emptied before collection day.
The Council has thanked the many residents who have already made food waste recycling part of their weekly routine but it is encouraging more people to take part, particularly in areas where participation could be higher.
Analysis of collection data has shown that food waste collections tend to be lower on Wednesdays. Areas affected include Brierton, Owton Manor, Rift House, the Milbank Road and Lancaster Road area, the Headland and the streets off Elwick Road between Burn Valley Road and Penrhyn Street.
Residents who are not yet recycling their food waste are being encouraged to make a fresh start during Recycling Week (14-20 September).
Councillor Amanda Napper, Hartlepool Borough Council's Chair of Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services Committee, said: "I would like to thank the thousands of residents who have embraced food waste recycling since the service was introduced. Collecting almost 900 tonnes of food waste is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates how people across Hartlepool are playing their part in reducing waste and protecting the environment.
"However, there is still more we can achieve. Every banana skin, tea bag, plate scraping and leftover meal that is recycled rather than thrown into the general rubbish bin makes a difference.
"Food waste collections are now a normal part of weekly life for many households, but we know there are still residents who have not yet started using the service. Recycling Week is the perfect opportunity to get involved. By filling your food waste caddy rather than your rubbish bin, you are helping to cut waste and support the generation of renewable energy and natural fertiliser.
"We would particularly encourage residents in areas where participation is lower to make sure they are making full use of the service. Together, we can build on the excellent progress already made and recycle even more food waste in the future."
Residents can place most unavoidable and leftover food waste in their food waste caddies, including fruit and vegetable peelings, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags and coffee grounds.
For more information about food waste recycling go to www.hartlepool.gov.uk/recycling