With the Environment Act 2021 and the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, requiring local authorities in England to provide all households with a separate weekly collection of food waste by 31 March 2026, it is crucial that households are communicated effectively with this service change, so they participate correctly.
WRAP has been working with Defra on a new Household Food Waste Collections Communication Guidance as a free resource for local authorities.
The communications guidance features a step-by-step guide to help you prepare and plan your food waste collections campaign, as well as useful tips and key templates for kerbside collections, flats/communal properties and for those authorities moving from an existing mixed food and garden waste collection to separate food waste collection.
Why is it important to communicate effectively?
Communications are an integral part of any service change. It is necessary to ensure that information is communicated effectively to householders to help them understand how, why and when to participate in planned waste and recycling service changes.
Our top 5 communication tools available to you:
- Writing your communications campaign – we’ve identified 10 steps to plan an effective communications campaign. Downloadable Word and Excel templates are available to take you through each step of the planning process.
- Updating your website – your website needs to be updated with information about the upcoming food waste service prior to pre-launch leaflet/ letter being delivered and amended necessary during the roll out. Liaise with your web developers to create a dedicated URL to signpost users. We’ve also provided some template website content to feature.
- Frequently Asked Questions – we’ve prepared some for you to share internally with relevant crews, frontline staff and elected members and on your website to help reduce queries and calls from householders and ensure a consistent approach to responses.
- Writing a press release – most local authorities have established relationships with local media, so liaise with your communications team on how and when to contact local journalists. We’ve provided some example media content and don’t forget to also feature in your council magazine or newsletter.
Raising awareness online – social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to promote the food waste collection service change and can encourage residents to actively engage in recycling. We have some example social media copy, as well as social graphic templates available.
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Our top 5 food waste templates available to you:
- Pre-launch leaflet - the introductory leaflet has been developed to introduce a new food waste recycling scheme in your area. It is expected it will be delivered to households approximately 4 weeks before delivery of the kitchen caddy and outdoor bin.
- Kerbside instructions leaflet / Flat instructions leaflet -this leaflet has been developed to provide information on the new food waste recycling service to households receiving a kerbside collection, as well as a separate one for households receiving a communal collection.
- Caddy sticker, liner and hotfoil - all elements of the caddy sticker, liner and hotfoil artwork should remain the same. You can add your authority logo where indicated.
- Flats signage and residual bin sticker – communal container signage can be resized to fit your containers. You can add your authority logo where indicated.
Digital assets - web banner artwork has been developed for the launch phase and can be added to the homepage of your council website and included on a dedicated food waste webpage. There is also a variety of social media static carousel graphics for you to use on your Facebook or Instagram.
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Download the New Household Food Waste Collections Communication Guidance here: Household Food Waste Collections: Guidance and campaign planning templates | WRAP
Get in touch
For further support and information on the food waste collections communications guidance and templates, please contact WRAP’s Local Authority Support Team.
Email: la.support@wrap.org.uk or visit www.wrap.ngo
Sign up to WRAP’s local authority monthly e-newsletter here.
