Brighton Business Guide to Commercial Food Waste Recycling

Food waste and its segregation have long been a major challenge for businesses. Thirty percent of the mixed recycling processed by Recorra at our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is either food waste or contaminated by food waste. As a result of this incorrect disposal, food waste can generate methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. For Brighton businesses, understanding these changes now will help you stay compliant, reduce costs, and play a vital role in tackling climate change.

Why Food Waste Is Important for Commercial Waste Collection

Food waste is inevitable. Portions are often overestimated, and food retailers cannot perfectly predict changing demand. That’s why effective management of food waste is crucial to reduce both environmental impact and financial loss.

Environmental Impact

While food waste is biodegradable, its method of disposal determines whether the outcome is positive or not. For example, when food waste decomposes without oxygen it produces methane, a greenhouse gas which is up to 82.5 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. This means that limiting methane production is a vital component in the fight against climate change.

Financial Costs

Because of its high-water content and density, food waste is heavier than other waste streams. Therefore, placing food waste in general waste bins results in higher costs for businesses because general waste disposal in the UK is charged by weight.

Placing food waste in general waste bins is also set to get even more expensive from 2028 onwards because of the inclusion of energy-from-waste facilities within a revamped UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

What Food Waste Recycling Looks Like In Practice

1. Set up a dedicated food waste bin with proper signage on your site
2. Inform staff of the bin location and provide training on proper use of containers
3. Establish a collection point and time or contact the Recorra Helpdesk for an ad hoc collection
4. Food waste is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it’s converted into liquid fertiliser and biogas for energy

In practice you can dispose of the following items in the food waste bins:

• Dairy
• Fruit & vegetables
• Meat, fish, & bones
• Teabags
• Bread & pastries
• Soured milk

You cannot dispose of these items in the food recycling bin:

• Liquids
• Packaging
• Compostable packaging
• Glass

Brighton Tips

• Small worktop food caddies for low-volume producers, ideal for kitchens where space is limited.
• Donate surplus food to charities like FareShare and The Real Junk Food Project who redistribute food to people in need. For a bonus, the Real Junk Food Project is local to Brighton so donating there means you are giving back to Brighton-based communities.

How Recorra Supports Brighton Businesses

Recycling signage can be downloaded and printed  for free from our website. Our Sustainability consultant Ty Lawrence-Lamarca also delivers Sustainability Workshops such as the workshop on Waste Management and the Waste Hierarchy which was recently held at Platform 9 in Brighton with the University of Brighton and Restaurants Brighton. Similarly, The Flour Pot bakery has benefited from regular engagement with Recorra through management meetings, and staff training sessions. Since working with us, The Flour Pot has achieved a 62% recycling rate!

Recorra also offers detailed waste reporting. For example, we partnered with South Downs Leisure to conduct comprehensive waste audits across all their major sites, providing visibility over waste streams, identifying inefficiencies, and providing data for the development of recycling strategies tailored for individual facilities.

By setting up dedicated food waste systems and partnering with trusted providers like Recorra, your business can cut costs, meet regulatory requirements, and make a positive impact on the environment and local community.