The government has introduced a requirement for all councils to deliver the collection service for food waste under its Simpler Recycling legislation.

As a result, the council’s cabinet is being recommended to approve provision of the service at its meeting on June 10, with collections due to begin from late October.

Collections will be available to all kerbside properties initially, with a further roll out to flats and other communal properties from November onwards.

Full information about the free service and how people can take part will be shared with residents throughout the coming months. Food waste caddies and bin liners will also be delivered to households during this time.

Recycling food waste has a number of benefits including helping to turn leftovers into useful products such as green energy and natural fertilizer. It helps cut carbon footprints and improves soil health.

Weekly collections can help reduce household bin smells, as regular collections help to keep things fresher. They can also help to create more space in domestic waste bins.

And recycling food waste can help household finances. Millions of tonnes of food waste are thrown away each year, costing the average family around £1,000 annually according to figures from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Once food waste is collected, it will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility. This process generates sustainable energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We are supportive of any efforts to increase and improve recycling in the city and food waste collections are another way in which we can do this.

“All households produce unavoidable food waste, such as tea bags, eggshells and fruit peelings. The separate collection service will help residents to recycle these items as well as keep domestic waste bins cleaner and fresher with more space.

“All local councils are required to introduce food waste collection services by the government. As such, demand on suitable collection vehicles and related equipment has been extremely high but we are due to start delivering the service this autumn and residents will be kept informed about the details.

“This service will help residents to recycle their food waste and will add to our existing initiatives including our contamination campaign Check before you Chuck, schools education programme campaign Recycle Rovers and our free small electricals and batteries collection service.”

More information about the new weekly food waste collections, including details of caddy deliveries and collection dates, will be shared with residents before the service starts later in the autumn.