Understanding Resident Behaviour on Food Waste at Newcastle City

The UK’s Environment Act 2021 requires all councils to implement household food waste collection by March 31, 2026. In preparation, Newcastle City Council has taken a proactive approach, launching a pilot programme in September 2024. This initiative covers over 5,000 households across six wards—Kingston Park South, Newbiggin Hall, Blakelaw, West Fenham, Benwell and Scotswood, and Wingrove—which largely correspond to postcodes NE4, NE5, and NE15.

Understanding household participation is crucial for the success of this initiative. A well-designed scheme must not only achieve high engagement rates but also be practical and responsive to residents’ needs. This research provides valuable insights into what encourages participation, what barriers exist, and how policies can be shaped to make food waste collection accessible, efficient, and widely adopted.

The research findings indicate that over 90% of survey respondents expressed willingness to participate in a food waste collection scheme (Figure 2). However, caution is needed when interpreting this figure, as similar schemes in other UK cities and international studies show actual participation rates closer to 60%. This gap suggests self-selection bias, where individuals more inclined toward sustainability initiatives were more likely to respond to the survey.

Demographic Differences in the Sample

The survey sample differed significantly from the broader population in key ways:

• Gender: A higher proportion of female respondents compared to the general population.
• Ethnicity: There was a higher representation of white respondents.
• Education: The sample had a higher percentage of individuals with advanced degrees.
• Income: Many respondents chose not to disclose their income.
• Age: No significant differences were observed.

These differences suggest that households where women manage waste disposal and those with higher education levels may be more likely to engage in the scheme. Ethnic disparities in participation rates should also be explored further to ensure equitable access and engagement.

Key Resident Concerns

While most residents supported food waste collection, some raised concerns about rodents, plastic bag use, and uncertainty about waste processing. Key suggestions included incentives like compost discounts or car charging vouchers, better awareness campaigns, and targeted engagement for high-waste groups like students. Others proposed alternative services such as free garden waste collection and sought clarity on whether the provided bags are biodegradable.

Practical concerns focused on bin size and storage, with requests for larger bins for bigger households and solutions to prevent bin theft. Residents also wanted collection reminders, improved street cleaning, stricter enforcement against illegal dumping, and clearer guidelines on what can go in food waste bins. Some suggested expanding the service citywide and adding cooking oil collection.

Despite some reservations, most respondents welcomed the scheme, seeing it as a step toward better waste management. The findings reinforce existing research but also highlight areas for further exploration in Phase 2.

Actual Participation Insights

Geo-location data tracking actual participation in the scheme showed relatively even engagement across pilot postcodes. However, NE15 had noticeably lower participation rates, with smaller pockets of low engagement in other areas.

A significant drop in participation was observed between December 23 and December 27, likely due to the Christmas holiday period. These findings suggest that while interest is high, targeted interventions may be needed in specific areas to improve participation.

• A full copy of the research report is available here.

With Phase 1 now complete, the research team will launch Phase 2 from March to July 2025, shifting focus to the qualitative aspects of food waste behaviour. This phase will involve focus group discussions and interviews with residents to explore the barriers to participation and co-develop practical solutions with both communities and council representatives. The goal is to ensure that food waste collection schemes are effective, accessible, and aligned with residents’ needs.

The Food Waste Project highlights the importance of collaboration between academia and policymakers in designing evidence-based public services. The process and results of the Phase 1 demonstrated the possibilities of what sharing resources (i.e. data) and expertise from the universities and policymakers can achieve. As the project progresses into Phase 2, it will place residents’ voices at the heart of policy development, ensuring that food waste collection schemes are not only efficient but also community-driven.

Do you work in waste management or policy development? Are you looking for research-backed insights to improve food waste collection in your area? Get in touch with the research team at enquiries@insightsnortheast.co.uk or by filling out the form below to explore potential collaborations.

As the UK moves towards more sustainable waste management solutions, studies like this play a crucial role in shaping effective and inclusive food waste collection policies across the country.