Erewash Food Waste Recycling Service - First Six Months Resident Feedback Survey

This survey is now closed. Head to Food Waste: Six Months in- Resident Survey Results | Erewash Borough Council for the results.

The Erewash Food Waste Recycling Service has now been operating for six months, and we would like to hear about your experiences so far. Your feedback will help us understand what is working well, identify any challenges residents may be experiencing, and inform future improvements to the service. The purpose of this survey is to understand residents' experiences of the Erewash Food Waste Recycling Service during its first six months of operation.

The feedback collected will help

This survey is now closed. Head to Food Waste: Six Months in- Resident Survey Results | Erewash Borough Council for the results.

The Erewash Food Waste Recycling Service has now been operating for six months, and we would like to hear about your experiences so far. Your feedback will help us understand what is working well, identify any challenges residents may be experiencing, and inform future improvements to the service. The purpose of this survey is to understand residents' experiences of the Erewash Food Waste Recycling Service during its first six months of operation.

The feedback collected will help the Council assess resident satisfaction with the service, identify any issues or barriers to participation, and highlight opportunities for improvement. Residents' views will help inform future service developments and support efforts to increase food waste recycling across the borough.

The survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete and all responses will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purpose of evaluating and improving the service.

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  • Survey Results

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    Since launching the food waste recycling service at the end of March 2026, thousands of Erewash residents have been helping to reduce food waste, recycle more, and make a positive contribution to the environment.

    To understand how the service is working for local people, we recently asked residents to share their experiences in the first six months. The results show strong support for the scheme, high levels of participation, and evidence that the service is helping Erewash households think differently about the food they throw away.

    Residents Are Using the Service Regularly

    The survey found that respondents have made food waste recycling part of their weekly routine, with:

    • 88.6% of respondents putting their food waste bin out every week
    • More than four in five respondents (85.8%) saying the service is easy or very easy to use

    These results suggest that the food waste service has been successfully integrated into everyday household habits across the borough.

    Information and Guidance Rated Highly

    Respondents also gave positive feedback about the information and guidance provided when the food waste service was introduced.

    • 44.8% rated the information as Excellent
    • 40.9% rated it as Good
    • Giving an overall positive rating of 85.7%

    This indicates that most respondents feel well informed about how the service works and what can be recycled.

    Making a Real Difference to Household Waste

    One of the strongest findings from the survey was the impact the service is having on general household waste.

    • 32.7% of respondents said they are throwing away significantly less waste in their black bin
    • 41.2% said they are throwing away somewhat less
    • A combined 73.9% reported a reduction in black bin waste

    Many respondents commented that they had been surprised by how much food waste their household generated and that separating it out had helped them become more aware of their habits. Others reported making positive changes such as planning meals more carefully, wasting less food, and using leftovers more effectively.
    Respondents also frequently reported noticing lighter black bins, fewer unpleasant odours and more space remaining in their general waste bin.

    Raising Awareness of Food Waste

    A recurring theme from the survey was that the service has helped respondents understand the amount and type of food waste their household produces.

    Many respondents said they were surprised by how much food waste they generated, while others were pleased to discover that much of what they recycle consists of unavoidable food preparation waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and eggshells.

    Importantly, respondents told us that the food waste service has encouraged positive behaviour changes, including reducing food waste, improving meal planning and becoming more conscious of food purchasing habits.

    Residents Would Recommend the Service

    When asked whether they would recommend food waste recycling to others:

    • 67.5% said they would definitely recommend it
    • 14.3% said they would probably recommend it
    • Giving an overall positive recommendation score of 81.8%

    This strong endorsement demonstrates the value respondents see in the service and its benefits for both households and the environment.

    High Levels of Overall Satisfaction

    Overall satisfaction with the service remains encouraging:

    • 51.7% of respondents said they were Very Satisfied
    • 26.7% said they were Satisfied
    • Giving an overall satisfaction rating of 78.4%

    Many respondents described the service as "excellent", "great", "working well" and highlighted the environmental benefits of recycling food waste separately from general rubbish.

    Listening and Improving

    While the results are overwhelmingly positive, the survey also provided valuable feedback on where we can improve.

    The most common suggestions related to easier access to compostable liners, reducing missed collections, improving bin handling, and providing further advice on managing food waste during warmer weather.

    We are already reviewing residents' feedback and will use it to help shape future improvements to the food waste service.

    Thank You, Erewash

    The survey shows that respondents have embraced food waste recycling and are making a real difference. Not only is the service helping divert food waste away from general rubbish, but it is also encouraging households to think more carefully about food waste and reduce what they throw away.

    Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey and to all residents who continue to recycle their food waste every week. Together, we're helping to create a cleaner, greener Erewash.

    Since launching the food waste recycling service at the end of March 2026, thousands of Erewash residents have been helping to reduce food waste, recycle more, and make a positive contribution to the environment.

    To understand how the service is working for local people, we recently asked residents to share their experiences in the first six months. The results show strong support for the scheme, high levels of participation, and evidence that the service is helping Erewash households think differently about the food they throw away.

    Residents Are Using the Service Regularly

    The survey found that respondents have made food waste recycling part of their weekly routine, with:

    • 88.6% of respondents putting their food waste bin out every week
    • More than four in five respondents (85.8%) saying the service is easy or very easy to use

    These results suggest that the food waste service has been successfully integrated into everyday household habits across the borough.

    Information and Guidance Rated Highly

    Respondents also gave positive feedback about the information and guidance provided when the food waste service was introduced.

    • 44.8% rated the information as Excellent
    • 40.9% rated it as Good
    • Giving an overall positive rating of 85.7%

    This indicates that most respondents feel well informed about how the service works and what can be recycled.

    Making a Real Difference to Household Waste

    One of the strongest findings from the survey was the impact the service is having on general household waste.

    • 32.7% of respondents said they are throwing away significantly less waste in their black bin
    • 41.2% said they are throwing away somewhat less
    • A combined 73.9% reported a reduction in black bin waste

    Many respondents commented that they had been surprised by how much food waste their household generated and that separating it out had helped them become more aware of their habits. Others reported making positive changes such as planning meals more carefully, wasting less food, and using leftovers more effectively.
    Respondents also frequently reported noticing lighter black bins, fewer unpleasant odours and more space remaining in their general waste bin.

    Raising Awareness of Food Waste

    A recurring theme from the survey was that the service has helped respondents understand the amount and type of food waste their household produces.

    Many respondents said they were surprised by how much food waste they generated, while others were pleased to discover that much of what they recycle consists of unavoidable food preparation waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and eggshells.

    Importantly, respondents told us that the food waste service has encouraged positive behaviour changes, including reducing food waste, improving meal planning and becoming more conscious of food purchasing habits.

    Residents Would Recommend the Service

    When asked whether they would recommend food waste recycling to others:

    • 67.5% said they would definitely recommend it
    • 14.3% said they would probably recommend it
    • Giving an overall positive recommendation score of 81.8%

    This strong endorsement demonstrates the value respondents see in the service and its benefits for both households and the environment.

    High Levels of Overall Satisfaction

    Overall satisfaction with the service remains encouraging:

    • 51.7% of respondents said they were Very Satisfied
    • 26.7% said they were Satisfied
    • Giving an overall satisfaction rating of 78.4%

    Many respondents described the service as "excellent", "great", "working well" and highlighted the environmental benefits of recycling food waste separately from general rubbish.

    Listening and Improving

    While the results are overwhelmingly positive, the survey also provided valuable feedback on where we can improve.

    The most common suggestions related to easier access to compostable liners, reducing missed collections, improving bin handling, and providing further advice on managing food waste during warmer weather.

    We are already reviewing residents' feedback and will use it to help shape future improvements to the food waste service.

    Thank You, Erewash

    The survey shows that respondents have embraced food waste recycling and are making a real difference. Not only is the service helping divert food waste away from general rubbish, but it is also encouraging households to think more carefully about food waste and reduce what they throw away.

    Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey and to all residents who continue to recycle their food waste every week. Together, we're helping to create a cleaner, greener Erewash.