What can go in your food waste bin
Food waste bin
The food waste collection service is a weekly collection service and is currently only available in the following towns: Galashiels, Hawick, Jedburgh, Peebles, Selkirk and Tweedbank.
We provide a small brown bin to keep outside, and a silver caddy for your kitchen.
Food waste liners update – January 2026
The decision has been made to no longer provide free food waste liners to households once the current stock runs out.
Why was this decision made?
The provision of free liners is not a statutory requirement, and we are not able to sustain the ongoing costs in the current financial climate. Many other councils across Scotland do not provide liners.
When will this happen?
We will continue to supply liners until our current stock runs out. Once stocks run out, collection crews will leave a card for any household which requests liners informing them of this. We anticipate that current stocks may run out at the end of January/beginning of February.
What can I use instead?
There are a number of alternative liner options for households:
- the caddy can be lined with kitchen roll or newspaper
- compostable kitchen caddy liners can be purchased from many local retailers and online outlets
- re-use plastic bags which would otherwise be thrown out eg:
- bread, salad or cereal bags
- thin plastic bags, such as sandwich bags - they don't need to be clean
- carrier bags which are nearing the end of their usefulness
- place food waste loose into the caddy - food waste can be placed loose into the indoor and outdoor caddy
- Plastic bags, such as small pedal bin liners
Please do not use black bin liners, or plastic tubs, pots or trays.
Will food waste recycling continue?
Yes. There will be no other change to food waste collections, all collection days will remain the same.
The processing plant where the food waste goes for treatment can accept all of the above alternative liner options.
We would like to thank residents who recycle their food waste and encourage them to continue and invite those in our collection areas who don’t yet recycle food waste to start.
Why is it important to recycle food waste?
Recycling food waste removes waste from general waste bins and helps protect the environment and saves resources:
- reduces greenhouse gases - food waste in landfill produces methane, a harmful climate gas
- saves money and resources - wasting food also wastes the energy, water, and effort used to produce it
- creates value - recycled food waste can be turned into renewable energy and nutrient rich compost
What can go in your food waste bin
The food waste service can take all cooked and uncooked food waste:
- dairy
- meat and bones
- fruit
- vegetables
- bread
- rice and pasta
- fish
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- egg shells
Place all food waste in your bin. This includes leftovers, out of date food in your fridge or cupboard, or from preparing a meal.
All food should be removed from packaging.
What can't go in your food bin
- liquids
- oils
- general waste
- nappies
Top tips for food waste
- present your brown bin with the handle up on collection day
Find out why getting it right is important to reduce the contamination (wrong stuff) in our bins.
You can help us to make collections as quick, easy and safe as possible for our collection crews by following our bin presentation guidance.
Find out why we need to recycle and what happens to your waste after collection.