Bedford Borough Council has launched a new commercial food waste collection service to support local businesses in complying with new Simpler Recycling legislation. This initiative, which began in March 2025, aims to help businesses separate food waste from general waste. The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimated that in 2021, total food waste in the UK amounted to 10.7 million tonnes. A research briefing from the House of Commons found that, by weight, most food waste comes from households (60%), followed by farms (15%), manufacturing (13%), hospitality and food service (10%) and retail (2%).
Elected Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, said; "We are proud to launch this new commercial food waste collection service, which marks a significant step forward in Bedford’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
“By helping our local businesses comply with the Simpler Recycling legislation, we are not only supporting them to meet legal requirements but also contributing to a greener future for our borough. This service transforms food waste into valuable energy and organic fertiliser, reducing landfill and carbon emissions.
“I encourage all eligible businesses to embrace this opportunity and join us in making Bedford a cleaner, more sustainable place to live and work."
The service has been developed by the council's Commercial Services team in collaboration with its Refuse and Recycling team. It is designed to provide all businesses across the borough with an efficient and environmentally friendly way to manage their food waste. All food waste collected will go to an anaerobic digestion plant located in the Borough operated by BioGen – the UK’s leading operator.
Anaerobic digestion is a process in which bacteria break down organic matter, such as food waste, without oxygen. These bacteria convert the waste to biogas, which is extracted and is currently used to produce electricity. This is then exported to the National Grid to supply households and businesses with green energy. The solid matter left behind is used as an organic fertiliser. As well as being better for the environment, recycling food waste is a much cheaper process, allowing the council to pass on cost savings to service users.
Councillor Nicola Gribble, Portfolio Holder for Environment, commented; "Bedford Borough Council is committed to supporting our local businesses in reducing their environmental impact. This new service not only helps businesses comply with the latest recycling regulations but also contributes to our broader goal of reducing waste and promoting sustainability across the borough.”
Businesses interested in the service can receive a no-obligation quotation from the Council's Commercial Services team, outlining the benefits and details of the collection service.
For more information or to ask for a quote for this commercial food waste collection service, businesses can visit the Bedford Borough Council website at www.bedford.gov.uk/CommercialServices