Residents across Basingstoke and Deane have recycled almost 7,000 tonnes of food waste in the first year of a weekly collection service, equivalent to the weight of nearly 1.4 million pumpkins.
Since the service was introduced in October 2025, an estimated 6,962 tonnes of food waste has been collected and transformed into green energy and compost.
The scheme, jointly introduced by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hart District Council, allows households to recycle items including fruit and vegetable peelings, plate scrapings, eggshells, meat bones and other kitchen leftovers.
In Basingstoke and Deane alone, around 4,262 tonnes of food waste has been collected over the past year. This is roughly equivalent to the weight of 355 double-decker buses.
Meanwhile, households in Hart have recycled an estimated 2,700 tonnes, equivalent to around 225 double-decker buses.
The councils say the service is helping residents reduce the amount of waste going into their general rubbish bins. It is estimated that around 29% of the waste previously placed in household rubbish bins can now be recycled through the weekly food waste collections.
More than half of households in Basingstoke and Deane are already using the service, with participation continuing to grow.
The scheme also forms part of efforts to meet government recycling targets, which require recycling rates to reach 65% by 2035. The amount of rubbish thrown away each year must also be reduced to 287kg per person by 2042.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing, Councillor Laura James, said the response from residents had been encouraging.
She said: “Already we know that over half of the borough’s residents are using their food waste service and we’re delighted by this response.
“Now is a great time for residents to make the most of this weekly service provided, diverting food waste, that will smell and rot, away from the rubbish bin and putting it into their food waste caddy to be collected every week.”
Councillor James added that the councils had introduced more opportunities for residents to recycle and make better use of materials, thanking the young people who had helped create artwork for the new collection vehicles.
The food waste trucks have recently been given a colourful makeover featuring recycling-themed designs created by 11 primary-school-aged children from across the two districts.
Residents also had the opportunity to suggest names for the vehicles, with successful entries including Peels on Wheels, Core Patrol, The Very Hungry Caddyfiller and Scrappy Doo.
Households that have not yet started recycling their food waste can join the scheme at any time by putting their caddies out on their usual weekly collection day.
All food waste must be placed inside a liner or plastic bag, such as an empty bread bag. This helps keep the caddies clean and protects collection crews from mould spores and mess. The bags are removed and sent for incineration before the food waste itself is recycled.
Residents who need a food waste caddy or want to find out more can contact their local council.
Information is available at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/recycling or by calling 01256 844844.