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Food Waste Management Solutions

Simpler recycling legislation: What's changing

Along with weekly separate food waste collections, the Simpler Recycling reforms initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce landfill emissions, simplify recycling systems, and promote sustainability.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced £295 million in capital funding to help councils implement these changes. This funding is designed to cover the costs of:

• New food waste containers for households
• Specialist collection vehicles
• Infrastructure for councils currently lacking food waste services

The goal is to divert food waste from landfill to anaerobic digestion facilities, where it can be transformed into green energy and compost, significantly reducing the 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste annually.

Guidance on simpler recycling transitions

In support of Defra, WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) have released a guidance document for Local Authorities to assist with the transitions. The guidance has been created by WRAP in conjunction with reputable waste product and fleet Suppliers and Public Sector Buying Organisations such as YPO, to assist in the procurement of specialist food waste collection vehicles and waste products and containers in an attempt to provide as much guidance as possible to ensure that the transition to separate food waste collections is as smooth as possible for local authorities.

Access WRAP's weekly food waste implementation guidance via the link here. Local authorities will receive funding to assist with these transitions and Defra are hoping to inform LA’s of allocation shortly.

How prepared are local authorities?

Local Authorities are currently at varying stages of readiness:

• Some have already implemented food waste services
• Others are preparing for rollout and awaiting further guidance

In terms of funding:

• Transitional funding has been confirmed to support initial setup
• Revenue funding is still pending confirmation, which will be crucial for long-term service sustainability

YPO offers dedicated frameworks to support Local Authorities on their journey toward food waste separation. Explore our frameworks below to find out how we can support in implementing the simpler recycling reforms.

Click here to play the YPO Food for Thought video

YPO Food for Thought YPO's food waste management frameworks have been devised to support local authorities on their journey of food waste separation to reduce landfill emissions. Find out more in our latest video.

The Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership

The Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership has worked with YPO on two major procurements in 2025, to support the roll out of weekly food waste collections across much of the region.

"The support we received from YPO on both exercises was excellent – they were professional, responsive and helped us secure economies of scale. We were particularly appreciative of their involvement in our purchase of caddy liners – during which time was of the essence. YPO completely understood the pressure we were under to complete a transparent and robust exercise and were will us every step of the way, with extremely speedy and helpful advice. Many thanks to both Vicky & Simone."

- Rosie Sleep, Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership Manager.

Staffordshire Waste Partnership

"The YPO team have provided invaluable support and technical knowledge to deliver this procurement on our behalf, helping us to secure a suitable outcome within budget and successfully meeting our requirements. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with YPO again in the future".

Kay explained that the benefits gained by using the framework were; "Ease of call off to a large variety of key suppliers and expert support".

- Kay Buck - Partnership Manager for a collaboration - Lead authority of Lichfield District Council, on behalf of 7 waste authorities in Staffordshire as part of Staffordshire Waste Partnership

Explore frameworks

outdoor bins

Indoor and Outdoor Bins - 1155

The framework is designed to meet the needs of all public sector organisations, such as schools local authorities and...

Man sat at desk looking at computers

Software Application Solutions - 1095

This framework is for the provision of software application solutions which has been development from extensive public...

Food Deal DPS - 985

YPO has established a fully compliant Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) - YPO’s UK Food Deal. This comprehensive DPS...

Food Deal 2 – Direct Award Solutions - 1114

This framework offers customers a streamlined route to market for purchasing food items across any or all 6 food...

alternative fuel vehicles

Alternative Fuelled Vehicles DPS - 1066

This framework is for the provision of alternatively fuelled vehicles which has been developed from extensive public...

Purchase, Lease and Hire of Specialist Vehicles

Purchase, Lease and Hire of Specialist Vehicles - 1170

YPO have appointed providers onto the new 1170 framework agreement for the Supply of Purchase, Lease and Hire of...

recycling bin

Refuse and Recycling Products - 1185

The supply of a wide range of recycling products including food waste caddies, wheeled bins, food and garden waste...

electronic catering management

Electronic Catering Management & Payment Solutions - 1205

Upon creation of any Framework, YPO aims to evaluate suppliers based on criteria relevant to any organisations that...

Food Deal 3 - Direct Award: Sandwiches, Ready Meals. Meal Concepts and Food-To-Go - 1216

Department for Education approved framework The Ready Meals, Meal Concepts and Food-To-Go Framework provides a...

Supply of Food and Drink Vending Solutions - 1206

Department for Education approved framework A brand new offering to YPO, covering a range of vending and...

self-heating meals

Self-Heating Meals and Beverages - 1130

This framework provides a compliant route to market for the purchase of Self-Heating Meals and Beverages. The...

removals and recycling

Removals, Recycling, Storage and Associated Services -1199

This framework is for the provision of a managed service for office moves, relocation, storage, furniture recycling and...