April 2026 Deadline: Weekly Food Waste Collection Becomes Law for All Households

By April 2026, all local authorities in England will be legally required to provide weekly food waste collections for every household, including flats and communal housing. The clock is ticking! You can read the full legislation here.

This forms part of DEFRA’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms, aimed at standardising collections and improving recycling rates across the country. A central government funding pot of £295 million has been allocated to support rollout but many local authorities have warned this will not stretch far enough, especially when it comes to infrastructure for flats.

This is where housing providers can play a vital role. The legislation effectively places new responsibilities on landlords to help ensure properties are equipped with suitable food waste provision, whether by supporting external bin housings, improving storage and access, or working with councils to meet compliance.

metroSTOR are already working with authorities and housing partners to design cost-effective, practical recycling and waste solutions, from clean, secure enclosures that meet the needs of flat-based residents to smart signage and on-going outreach to educate and empower communities.

With just one year to go, the message is clear: housing teams and local authorities will need to collaborate and act now to meet the deadline.